Cognitive psychology and its influence on everyday behaviorThroughout the ages, humans have had an inherent interest in studying the complex area of ​​human behavior, even before psychology was established as a science. Because the study of behavior is very broad and multifaceted, its scientific study poses particular challenges. It may therefore be beneficial to approach the scientific study of human behavior from the perspective of cognitive psychology. It is the study of cognition, the mental processes that underlie human behavior (Ling & Cattling, 2012). This article will explore the extent to which cognitive psychology can explain and predict everyday behavior by critically examining a number of cognitive theories and demonstrating their application in real-world contexts. For the purposes of this essay, I decided to choose three everyday behaviors that tend to be common in the lives of college students and approach the analysis from that angle. The essay begins by exploring the field of multitasking behaviors and the cognitive theories surrounding them. the domain of divided attention and its effects on daily life. From there, the phenomenon of excessive alcohol consumption among college students is discussed, particularly the effect it has on memory in an everyday context. Finally, the tendency of students to spend a lot of time listening to music is assessed, with particular emphasis on why music can make individuals feel a particular way, tapping into the domain of cognition and emotion. This essay will discuss in detail the contribution of cognitive psychology to our understanding of these behaviors. Students of the 21st century are part of what is called the digital generation. Technology has...... middle of paper ...... regulation is a crucial motivator for listening to music (Lonsdale & North, 2011). Thus, cognitive theories are able to predict that listening to music has the capacity to elicit an emotional response in student listeners. This essay explores the ability of cognitive psychology to explain and predict everyday behaviors. It explores three completely different behaviors common in a college student's daily life: multitasking, excessive drinking, and listening to music. For each of these behaviors, a general context is given to explain the behavior. This is followed in each case by an analysis of some of the main cognitive theories that explain these behaviors. Finally, examples of behaviors implemented in the student's daily life are discussed, demonstrating the ability of cognitive psychology to successfully predict daily behavior..