1.3: Forgetting, Memory Construction and Improvement Flashcards
6 reason we forget:
encoding failure, storage decay, retrieval failure, proactive interference, retroactive interference, motivated forgetting/ repression
encoding failure
memory never encoded between short and long-term memory
storage decay
information discarded
gradual fading of memory trace
forgetting curve*
retrieval failure
- can’t retrieve it*
- “tip of tongue”!*
not enough information to retrieve memory
proactive interference
old disrupts new
haunting past memory— lose future recall
retroactive interference
new disrupts old
new info disrupts the recall of past info
motivated forgetting/ repression
want to forget
repress painful memories to protect self-concept
lingers to be retrieved by a cue
Hermann Ebbinghaus and forgetting curve
- learned nonsense syllables
- measured how much he retained
— forgetting curve: rapid drop, then levels off
Elizabeth Loftus and misinformation effect
- people exposed to subtle misinformation— misremember/ exaggerate details
source amnesia
we retain the memory of an event, but not the context in which we acquired it
i.e. woman heard slightly false story about her finding her mom dead— made the story real in her mind— when actually someone else found her mom dead, her story that she thought was real never happened to her
children’s eyewitness descriptions
kids hear suggestive statements— make up stories. But sometimes can be true
controversy of repressed or constructed memories of abuse
repressed- abuse was real— disbelieved survivors
constructed- abuse was made up— innocent people are falsely accused
7 tips of improving memory:
- rehearse repeatedly
- make material meaningful
- activate retrieval cues- i.e. recreate context
- use mnemonic devices
- minimize inferference- don’t study interefering topics close together
- sleep more
- test your own knowledge- practice!
