Learning and cognition

A reconstruction — recall rebuilds events using schemas.

Memory as sensory, short-term and long-term stores linked by attention and rehearsal.

They add expected details and drop inconsistent ones, distorting recall.

A reconstructed memory feels as vivid as a true one.

Reconstructive memory can produce confident but false recall of a crime.

Models make memory testable and there's strong evidence for schema-driven errors.

Models oversimplify, schemas are hard to measure, and lab tasks can be artificial.

Cognitive models make an invisible process testable.

Schemas distort recall, adding expected and dropping inconsistent details.

Useful and often accurate, but reconstructive and predictably distorted under some conditions.

Thinking uses fast, automatic System 1 and slow, effortful System 2.

Fast, automatic, effortless thinking that handles most decisions with shortcuts.

Slow, deliberate, effortful reasoning that can check and override System 1.

A mental shortcut used by System 1 to reach quick judgements.

Over-weighting the first value you encounter when judging.

Seeking and noticing information that fits existing beliefs.

System 1 shortcuts are usually helpful and fast; they only mislead in tricky situations.

Explains many biases and has practical value for improving decisions.

The 'two systems' may be a metaphor, not literal brain parts.

Recognise when to slow down and engage System 2 to check System 1.