Information-Processing Theory

Gordon, Michael; Woods, Adam J.

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-22009-9_698

Michael Gordon³ &
Adam J. Woods^3,4

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Definition

Information processing theory is a cognitive developmental approach that lays a structural foundation for the human mind. The information processing theory assumes that the human mind contains mental structures that process information received by the senses. The mental structures of this theory allow manipulation and storage of information to be explained.

Overview

Prior to the introduction of the information processing theory in the latter half of the twentieth century, behaviorist models dominated how experimental psychologists explained human behavior. Moving away from the idea that observable behavior is the only objective evidence for understanding how we interpret stimuli, cognitive psychologists began to theorize that the mind contained mental processes that helped to understand incoming stimuli. Cognitive psychologists of the time thought the “stimulus response” model of the mind created by the behaviorists was too simple. Cognitive psychologists then began to...

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Authors and Affiliations

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Michael Gordon & Adam J. Woods
Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Adam J. Woods

Authors

Michael Gordon
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Adam J. Woods
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Correspondence to Adam J. Woods .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Population Division, Department of Economics and Social Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY, USA
Danan Gu
Department of Population Health Sciences, Department of Sociology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
Matthew E. Dupre

Section Editor information

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology - College of Public Health and Health Professions - Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory - McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Adam J. Woods
Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Adam J. Woods

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Gordon, M., Woods, A.J. (2021). Information-Processing Theory. In: Gu, D., Dupre, M.E. (eds) Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22009-9_698

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22009-9_698
Published: 24 May 2022
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-22008-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-22009-9
eBook Packages: Social SciencesReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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