Memory The stories we tell...
Cognitive Perspective Language Intelligence Thinking and Reasoning Memory
Types of Memories Explicit/Declarative –semantic: facts, knowledge –episodic: autobiographical events Implicit –procedural: the ‘how tos’
Memory: The persistence of learning over time. Encoding Storage Retrieval
Memory Construction Recall is not an exact replica of original events Recall is a construction built and rebuilt from various sources We often fit memories into existing beliefs Schemas provide a framework for new information
Word List BED CLOCK DREAM NIGHT TURN MATTRESS SNOOZE NOD TIRED NIGHT BLANKET ARTICHOKE INSOMNIA REST TOSS NIGHT ALARM NAP SNORE PILLOW
Enhancing Remembering Serial Position Effect: –primacy –recency Repetition Distinctiveness Organization Mnemonics
Enhancing Remembering Mass vs. Spaced Practice Automatic vs. Effortful Processing
Automatic Processing A BC D EF
Encoding Specificity Context dependence: Scuba Diver study
Encoding Specificity State dependence –arousal level, altered states of consciousness Mood congruence –effects of depression on memory and perception
Flashbulb Memories ‘Video-like’ memory, vivid and detailed Usually highly emotional, shocking Example: September 11 How accurate are they?
Flashbulb Memories Neisser and Harsch (1992) Challenger disaster 1 day later vs. 3 years later
Eyewitness Testimony Eyewitness testimony is influential in court Eyewitness confidence is related to juror conviction How accurate is eyewitness’ memory for an event?
Leading Questions Loftus and Palmer (1974) Subjects shown video of an accident between two cars How fast were the cars going when they hit each other?
Results ‘hit’ = 34.0 mph ‘contacted’ = 31.8 mph ‘bumped’ = 38.1 mph ‘collided’ = 39.3 mph ‘smashed’ = 40.8 mph
The Misinformation Effect Witness event Receive incorrect post-event information Asked to recall event, recall incorrect information
The Misinformation Effect Loftus, Miller and Burns (1978) Slideshow depicting car accident Car stopped at stop sign Asked “What was the color of the car stopped at the yield sign?”
The Misinformation Effect Forced-Choice Recognition Test: Which slide did you see?
Other Eyewitness Factors Race Identification Witness Expectations/Perceptions Duration of Event Emotional Arousal Transference –mug shots and lineups