RELIGION and COGNITION

An Introduction by István Czachesz

Religion, memory and learning

Memory is essential for cognition, and much of cognitive science has focussed on how memory works.

E.g. L.R. Squire & E.R. Kandel, Memory (1999)

Declarative (explicit) memory

Declarative memory is concerned with the conscious collection of information. Cognitive studies of religion have drawn on theories about episodic, semantic, and flashbulb memory. These categories, however, are contested in current memory research.

Non-declarative (implicit) memory

Non-declarative memory has received less attention in the cognitive study of religion. Yet it plays a crucial role in human behaviour, and consequently, it has to be considered seriously in the explanation of religious behaviour, as well.

  1. Habituation is the simplest form of memory. Through habituation animals learn to recognise and ignore familiar, unimportant, benign stimuli.
  2. Sensitisation, in contrast, makes attent for harmful or threatening stimuli.
  3. In classical conditioning, animals associate two stimuli (e.g. a signal and food).
  4. Operant conditioning, in turn, is the association of a stimulus with an action (e.g. association of food with pushing a lever).

Whereas we are only aware of making declarative memories, we use implicit memory, for example:

  • to adapt perception to the environment
  • to develop likes and dislikes, emotions
  • to appropriate skills to find our ways in the environment
  • to develop habits

Behaviour based on non-declarative memory plays an important role in religiosity. Think of habits and skills in daily routine and ritual, emotions connected to religious settings and subjects, and other associations built up from early childhood.
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