Autobiographical Memory

Question 1

Autobiographical memory

Answer 1

One’s personal history comprised of episodic memories of events engaged in and related self-beliefs, attitudes, opinions, and autobiographical facts (includes semantic info)
-over time can become generic semantic memories

Question 2

Jan is dancing on a table and falls off, breaking her leg - Is this autobiographical or semantic?

Answer 2

Autobiographical

Question 3

Lifespan retrieval curve and 3 periods

Answer 3

When the memory was encoded is important
1. childhood amnesia
2. reminiscence bump
3. period of recency

Question 4

childhood amnesia

Answer 4

we have few memories before age 3 and limited memories to age 10. The type of event is important such as the birth of a sibling.

Question 5

What might cause childhood amnesia?

Answer 5

-Biological maturation: Brain structures are associated with long-term memory and are underdeveloped
-Language development: Can’t report (rehearse) information so it may not be encoded
-Lack of sense of self: may not understand narrative or experience memory in a different way.
Things to consider with a child witness

Question 6

Reminiscence bump

Answer 6

People remember more about particular periods of their lives than others. We remember more about times from 10-30 years.

Question 7

Recent memories

Answer 7

We have more new than old memories because of forgetting