Forgetting & Memory Construction
Forgetting Forgetting is a result of either: Encoding Failure Storage Decay OR Retrieval Failure
Storage Loss: Amnesia Amnesia refers to the loss of memory. Clive Wearing
Types of Memory Loss Anterograde Amnesia: Retrograde Amnesia UNABLE TO FORM ANY NEW MEMORIES. Ex/Can’t remember anything that has occurred AFTER a traumatic head injury. Retrograde Amnesia UNABLE TO REMEMBER PAST EVENTS. Ex/ forget everything that happened BEFORE a traumatic head injury.
Encoding Failure We fail to encode the information. It never has a chance to enter our STM or LTM.
Encoding Failure: Which Penny is the Real Deal?
Storage Decay Even if we encode something well, we can forget it. Without rehearsal, we forget thing over time.
Ebbinghaus’s Forgetting Curve
Forgetting as Retrieval Failure The memory was encoded and stored, but sometimes cannot access the memory.
Types of Retrieval Failure 1.Proactive Interference: old information blocks out new information. ASK: What is interfered with…the new memories (PRO active interference)! Your old phone number blocks you from retrieving your new number Your old boyfriend’s name blocks you from retrieving your new boyfriend’s name
Types of Retrieval Failure 2. Retroactive Interference: new information blocks out old information. What is getting interfered with…the old/retro memories You new house address blocks you from retrieving your old address Your new school schedule blocks last years
PORN
Self Quiz: Proactive or Retroactive? Time Warner cable changes the channel numbers on your TV. You still type in 39 when trying to watch ESPN and it brings you to QVC. What type of interference is it?
Self Quiz: Proactive or Retroactive? You move and get a new address, yet all you can retrieve is your old address and not your new one. What type of interference is it?
Self Quiz: Proactive or Retroactive? When I learned all of your names this year, I forgot all of my student’s names from last year. What is getting interfered with NEW memory or -OLD memory What type of interference is it?
Self Quiz: Proactive or Retroactive? You keep putting in the locker combination from last year when trying to open this year’s locker? What is getting interfered with NEW memory or -OLD memory What type of interference is it?
Self Quiz: Proactive or Retroactive? You were an expert skier but after learning to snowboard, you have had trouble getting used to skiing again. What is getting interfered with NEW memory or -OLD memory What type of interference is it?
Self Quiz: Proactive or Retroactive? Mom reorganizes the kitchen and you look for a plate in its old location. What is getting interfered with NEW memory or -OLD memory What type of interference is it?
Think you have it? Write a real life example for both Proactive Interference and Retroactive Interference
Retrieval Failure cont’d Tip of the Tongue phenomenon: when we are certain we know something yet we are unable to recall it. usually priming or context effects will help you recall the information you are looking for.
Motivated Forgetting We sometimes revise our own histories. Honey, I did stick to my diet today!!!!!!
Motivated Forgetting One explanation is REPRESSION: Why does is exist? One explanation is REPRESSION: in psychoanalytic theory We banish anxiety- arousing thoughts, feelings and memories from consciousness. FREUD
Repression and Controversy of Child Abuse In the late 1980’s a book came out called “The Courage to Heal” which encouraged people to recover memories of abuse. Following the book, “Recover Memory Therapists” arose in great numbers and many people began reporting incidents of “repressed” abuse. Sometimes “repressed memories” were used as evidence against individuals in court cases.
MEMORY CONSTRUCTION
Memory Construction (or reconstruction) We sometimes alter our memories as we encode or retrieve them. Your expectations, schemas, environment may alter your memories.
Source Amnesia (Source Attribution) Attributing to the wrong source an event we have experienced, heard about, read about or imagined.
FALSE MEMORIES Are you a reliable eyewitness?
FALSE MEMORIES Elizabeth Loftus is famous for her studies on false memories The Bunny Effect Lost in a Mall
Elizabeth Loftus’s Research on Eyewitness Testimony Depiction of actual accident Memory construction Loftus had individuals watch car accidents and then recorded results based on questioning procedures.
Misinformation Effect Leading Question: About how fast were the cars going when they smashed into each other?
TED Talks on Elizabeth Loftus