Have you ever wondered why you think the way you do? Why some people analyze everything while others trust their gut? Or why you can remember a random childhood moment but forget where you put your keys? Today, we’re breaking down the four major ways psychologists explain how we think—no confusing jargon, just the good stuff.
Cognitive psychology is all about how we take in information, process it, and use it to make decisions. Think of your brain like a computer. It runs different programs in the background, each shaping how you think, remember, and learn. And just like a computer has different ways to take in and process information, your brain has different ways of thinking.
The first way psychologists explain thinking is through the information processing paradigm. This theory sees your brain like a computer. It takes in information, processes it, and spits out decisions. Imagine you’re studying for a test. You read a textbook—input. Your brain organizes and stores that information—processing. And when test day comes, you recall it to answer questions—output. This explains why we sometimes need quiet to focus or why multitasking isn’t always effective. Your brain, like a computer, can only process so much at once. Ever felt like your brain just froze? That’s what happens when too many tabs are open.
But not all thinking follows a straight path like a computer. The second paradigm, the connectionist paradigm, explains that our brain works more like a massive spiderweb, where one thought is linked to many others. Say you see a dog. Instantly, your brain fires off connections—memories of your childhood pet, a funny dog meme, or even the time you got chased by one. This is why a single smell can transport you back in time or why hearing an old song brings up memories you didn’t even know you still had. Your brain is constantly making new connections, which is why learning new skills, like a language or an instrument, gets easier the more you practice.
Now, while computers and networks explain a lot about thinking, the third paradigm, the evolutionary paradigm, tells us why we think the way we do in the first place. Your brain isn’t designed to make you happy—it’s designed to keep you alive. Ever wonder why you’re afraid of snakes, heights, or public speaking? That’s your caveman brain at work, treating these as potential threats. Back in the day, running from danger, like a lion, was crucial for survival. Now, that same system makes you panic over an email. Your brain doesn’t always know the difference between real danger and modern stress. But once you understand this, you can manage fear and anxiety better. Sometimes, all it takes is reminding yourself, “Hey, this isn’t life or death.”
The final paradigm, the ecological paradigm, explains that thinking isn’t static. It changes based on where you are and what’s happening around you. Think about learning to drive. At first, it takes full focus. You’re hyper-aware of every turn, every speed limit, every signal. But after a while, your brain adapts, and driving becomes second nature. You don’t have to consciously think about every move. This explains why we get better at things over time and why different environments influence how we think and react. Have you ever noticed how you think differently at work versus at home? That’s your brain adjusting to the situation.
So, what does all this mean for you? Your brain isn’t just one thing. It works in different ways depending on what you’re doing. Next time you catch yourself overthinking, making a snap decision, or struggling to remember something, ask yourself: which way of thinking is at play? Maybe you’re using the computer model when solving a tough problem. Or tapping into the web of connections when a random memory pops up. Or maybe your survival brain is overreacting to something that isn’t actually a threat. The more you understand how you think, the more you can hack your own brain to work smarter, not harder.
Which of these thinking styles do you use the most? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you want to learn how to use these brain hacks for better decisions, make sure to follow for more. The more we understand our minds, the better we can shape our lives—one thought at a time.