Can cognitive psychology reshape our understanding of culture? This paper delves into the intersection of culture and cognition, highlighting the fragmented nature of cultural experiences. It synthesizes cognitive research to refine our understanding of culture, institutions, and individual agency within societal structures. Individuals navigate a culture characterized by disparate information and organizing schematic structures. The study emphasizes how institutions, social networks, and movements disseminate and activate specific schemata. The implications are explored across various domains, including identity formation, collective memory construction, social classification processes, and the underlying logics guiding social action. In conclusion, this cognitive perspective offers insights into cultural dynamics, providing a robust framework for sociological inquiry and further studies in **social sciences**, **social psychology**, and **cultural studies**.
Published in the Annual Review of Sociology, this article significantly contributes to the journal’s exploration of social structures and human behavior. By integrating cognitive psychology with sociological perspectives, it advances the theoretical understanding of how culture is internalized and acted upon within society, reflecting the journal's commitment to cutting-edge sociological research. This article builds on other studies published in the Annual Review of Sociology.