Beliefs, as defined in psychology, are representational state that play a specific role to the mind’s cognitive architecture. Along with one’s desires, beliefs offer casual explanations for our actions. So basically, having beliefs allow people to consitute a judgment to a certain or specific matter. The judgments we make have a direct effect on decision-making, behavior, as well as other beliefs. So, in essence, beliefs are basically memories that we formed and carried through life. However when ‘remember’ is used in relation to memories of non-representational sorts, beliefs are not necessarily involved. But if remembering is considered as a cognitive activity, then our beliefs will definitely play a much bigger role.
Depending on what type of memory is being used, our beliefs can either have a direct effect on them or none at all. For instance, episodic memory , in order for us to access it, will require a belief that is shaped from our memory. Meanwhile, semantic memory doesn’t require belief since we can state facts that we have learned in the past explicitly even without the conviction that we are right and therefore the act will be classified as a ‘semantic memory’.
Rememebering is an act wherein we access things or events that were held in our memory. In cognitive psychology, memory is classified into two types – implicit and explicit. Implicit memory systems are generally those that operate below one’s level of conscious awareness. Habituation is themost basic example of implicit memory, in which the body‘s system learns to adapt to environmental stimuli, like when one becomes oblivious to a noise in the background.
Explicit memory, on the other hand, needs an agent in order for one to be conscious of their own thoughts. Explicit memory can either be episodic or semantic. Episodic memory allows us to elicit emotions and other cross modal phenomenology. Meanwhile, semantic memory is basically the source of our general knowledge of the world.
Memories affect our beliefs in the same sense that our beliefs influence our memories. The experiences we learn in life allow us to form beliefs that we choose to live by and used as a basis when we make decisions or choices in life. The thoughts we held in our memory help shape and form our beliefs. Our beliefs make us who we are and represent what we stand for. Alternately, when we are engaged in the act of remembering our beliefs also come into play. Indeed, explaining the relation of memories to shaping our beliefs and vice versa is quite complex. Even psychologists argue differently about the matter and comprehensive research would be required for us to fully understand how memories directly influence our beliefs, so as with the ever growing debate on whether remembering would require belief or not.