What concept explains how we acquire knowledge based on experiences throughout our lives?

The concept that best explains how we acquire knowledge based on experiences throughout our lives is information processing theory. This theory posits that the human mind functions like a computer, where information is received, processed, stored, and retrieved. It emphasizes the systematic ways in which individuals take in information, interpret it, and use it to influence future behavior and learning.

Information processing theory highlights the importance of memory systems and cognitive processes such as attention, perception, and reasoning. It illustrates how experiences shape our understanding and knowledge by engaging with information in various forms, leading to deeper learning over time. This model allows for a detailed examination of how experiences contribute to the way knowledge is structured and accessed, making it a comprehensive framework for understanding learning and cognition.

The other concepts, while related to learning and knowledge acquisition, focus on different aspects. Cognitive development refers mostly to the maturation of thought processes over time, particularly during childhood. Social learning theory emphasizes learning through observation and imitation of others. Constructivism revolves around the idea that individuals construct their own understanding and knowledge through experiences but does not specifically encapsulate the systematic processing of information as intricately as information processing theory does.