Memory plays a big part in how we think and learn. In cognitive psychology, we can look at memory in three important steps: encoding, storage, and retrieval. Each step helps us manage the information we come across.

1. Encoding: This is the first step where we take in what we see, hear, or feel and change it into a form we can remember. Here are some ways we encode information:

   • Visual Encoding: This means turning pictures or images into mental ideas. For example, about 90% of what we understand comes from what we see.
   • Acoustic Encoding: This involves using sounds to help us remember things better. Rhymes or songs can make it easier to recall information.
   • Semantic Encoding: This focuses on the meaning of the information. It has been shown that we remember more when we think about what things mean. We can remember up to 60% of it this way, compared to just 10% when we memorize without thinking.

2. Storage: After we encode information, we then store it in our memory. There are three types of storage:

   • Sensory Memory: This is a very short holding place for what we sense, lasting only about half a second to 2 seconds.
   • Short-Term Memory (STM): This can hold about 7 items for 20 to 30 seconds.
   • Long-Term Memory (LTM): This is where information can last a really long time, even forever. It has no limits on how much we can keep. Long-term memory can be further divided into explicit (things we can declare or say) and implicit (things we do without thinking).

3. Retrieval: This is the step where we go back and find the information we stored. Several things can help us retrieve memories:

   • Cues: Helpers that make us remember can boost our recall by up to 50%.
   • Context: It’s often easier to remember information when we are in the same setting where we learned it.

In conclusion, knowing how memory processes work helps us understand why we remember things. Each step is important for how well we can keep information in our minds over time.