By Brad Bell
Memory is an important concept in psychology. Two types of memory are semantic memory and episodic memory. It is important to make a distinction between these two types of memories. What is semantic memory? What is episodic memory?
Semantic Memory Definition:
Semantic memory reflects the general knowledge we have about the world (e.g., concepts).
Episodic Memory Definition:
Episodic memory is our memory for events that we have personally experienced.
Semantic Memory Examples:
There are many examples of semantic memory. Our knowledge of historical events is one example of semantic memory. Memories of laws and organizational rules are semantic memories. Moreover, memories for many basic concepts such as intelligence, compassion, and humor are semantic memories.
Episodic Memory Examples:
There are many examples of episodic memory. Episodic memories are personal memories. They include all the memories for the events in our lives. These may be minor events, or they may be major events. The episodic memories may include memory what happened on our birthdays and holidays, memories from high school and college, and memories for funny and sad events in our lives.