1932 Barletts reconstructive memory Flashcards
Bartlett’s reconstructive memory (schemea theory)
Schemeas
Schema is packages of information that we have about everything we know
Effects how we remember things by filling in gaps in the memory with information that is based on primal is past experiences social expectations and a familiar culture
Bartlett’s reconstructive memory (schemea theory)
effort after meaning
Effort after meaning
Changing memories with gaps or unfamiliar data and replacing it with something from a schema that’s often rationalize to fit expectations and a familiar culture
Bartlett’s reconstructive memory (schemea theory)
Reconstructive memory
The idea that memory is not recorded exactly and there are gaps within the memory
These gaps are filled by schemas which help us guess what probably happened when we can’t really remember
E.g. the robber wore a mask
they actualy wore sun glasses
Bartlett’s reconstructive memory (schemea theory)
Rationalisation (re-order)
This is when we change the order of events to make it more familiar to fit a participants cultural expectations
Bartlett’s reconstructive memory (schemea theory)
Transformation (change info)
Information that is already there is changed to fit a schema
= Makes more sence to cultural and personal expectations
Interference in LTM can lead to Transformation of the info
Bartlett’s reconstructive memory (schemea theory)
Confabulation (Make smth up that didnt exist + think is real)
When a memory has new previously non-existant information added to it
to make it make sense to a person’s own cultural expectations and to fill gaps in the memory
becomes a false memory
A person may believe that this false memory is real
as creation of the false memory was involuntarily created
Bartlett’s reconstructive memory (schemea theory)
Simplification
Where a person condenses information or an event (memorys) so it’s more easily stored
[This may lead to crucial information being left out and these memories may later the altered by transformation and then confabulation and become false memories]
Bartlett’s reconstructive memory (schemea theory)
Perception and imaging
Perception:
a precursor to what is remembered
(how perceive objects/situations effecting how it is remembered (good/bad))
Imaging:
What is remembered his first imagined
connects a stimulus with the information/ experience to give it meaning and for it to be able to remember it better
e.g: remember the table from an office to remember a meeting better
Bartlett’s reconstructive memory (schemea theory)
How good is research
Bartlett overemphasizes the inaccuracy of memory and the gaps within the memory
So The research he has done to support the theory was effected by researcher bias and circular reasoning as he only finds what he is looking for and ignores everything else
For example the war of the ghosts usa story 1932 told to Cambridge University students to recall Native American ghost stories simular to in the style of chinnese wispers
he made this study specificaly to proove his theory, and concluded the shorterned anglosised results were due to his theory not extraneous variables such as the unusual style of the story that made it difficult to keep the order of events from the oringinal telling of the story
this shows bartlett’s research to support the theory was bad and also showed it was a product of circular reasoning
Bartlett’s reconstructive memory (schemea theory)
credibility
+ comparison to msm
It is often criticized that Bartlett does not actually explain how memory is reconstructive he only says that memory is reconstructive
therefore the theory does not actually explain why memories flawed and how memory is reconstructive
and it is therefore not credible as a theory as it is more of an disctiption than an explenation
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Msm is worse than schema theory as Schema theory Shows the different ways Memory can be altered via various ways such as simplification and confabulation
whereas MSM only shows 1 way memory can be altered:
- interference where new Memories don’t fit into or get confused with old memories and therefore overriding some of it
Therefore due to being in more detail on different ways memory can be altered schema Theory is better than msm
Bartlett’s reconstructive memory (schemea theory)
evidence + (Allport and postman 1947)
Allport and postman 1947
Showed ppts an drawing of an argument on a train and asked the ppts to describe it to another in a simular way to chinnese wispers
ppts used Their cultural expectation schema to recall (rationalise) the well dressed black man had a razor when in realitt it was the white man
this supports The theory as it demonstraits rationalisation by using cultural expectation schemas to fill in the gaps in ppts memorys
Bartlett’s reconstructive memory (schemea theory)
aplication
Bartletts Theory has been impactful on the UK legal system
as it explains why an eye witness makes errors when reporting on crimes as the schema interferes with the description
this allows the delven report to be introduced which states that a prosecution can’t be on the basis of a single eyewitness
to combat the schema’s effect
This is how it is used in real life
Bartlett’s reconstructive memory (schemea theory)
evaluate order
paragraph 1: reconstructive memory + schemas + effort after meaning + rationalisation > Allport +postman 1947
paragraph 2 : bad research ( war of ghosts + circular reasoning + low eco validity + low construct validity (chinnese whispers style methord not very accurate way of measuring recall as chinnese wispers famous for innaccurate recal so += extraneous varible so low internal validity too)
paragraph 3: credibility (not explain how memory is reconstructive, no explain only discuss= not a real theory)
Paragraph 4: conclusion (theory terrible as not real theory + bad research + low validity)
aplication: devlin report
Reconstructive Mem theory bartlett
Assimilation
Assimilation
is attempting to interpret new info in light of existing Knowlege
schema changes to fit new knowlege
Reconstructive memory
barlett
Distortion
Distortion
change details so fit with schema
