Chapter 7 - Human Memory Flashcards
4-Step process of memory: short term memory
Duration: ~20 seconds
Capacity: 5-9 items, average 7
4-Step process of memory: encoding
The process between short term and long term memory
4-Step process of memory: long term memory
Duration and capacity varies
4-Step process of memory: retrieval
Act of retrieving information
Encoding and attention
Multitasking is bad
Encoding: elaboration
The more relevant information is to an individual, the easier it is to remember
Encoding: propositions
How things relate to each other; ex: chess player
Encoding: emotion (peak-end effect)
We remember the highs and lows of our day and fill in the details ourselves
Long term memory: schemas
How we organize memory according to clusters; a schema is a model of reality that we hold
Retrieval: cues
Tips for remembering things
Retrieval: Serial position effect
Memories flow in a series and the easiest to remember are the first and last parts
Retrieval: context effect
Where the memory was encoded and the environment in which it is retrieved affect how well one can remember them
Retrieval: State dependent memory
It is easier to remember something when you are in the same state of mind when it was encoded as when it is retrieved
Reconstruction
A memory is reconstructed when it is retrieved
Reconstruction: consistency bias
People will change their attitudes towards a subject to be consistent with how they feel today; one might hate obama while he is in office but 20 years later say he always like him
Reconstruction: schemas
A memory will be reconstructed according to the schema we have of that memory
Reconstruction: misinformation effect
A leading question can distort memory; a car hit another vs smashed another; was there any broken glass?
Reconstruction: flashbulb memory
A significant event can be remembered down to every detail but that doesn’t mean it is necessarily correct
Pseudoforgetting
Bad encoding leads to a distorted memory later on
Interference
Old information can interfere with new information; muscle memory
Repression
Threatening memories are locked away; often occurs in childhood
Hindsight bias
People tend to see past events as predictable; a person knew that a certain sports team was going to win when they actually had no idea
Next-in-line effect
People don’t listen to a conversation before or after their turn and instead think of their own thoughts
Stereotype bias
We will distort memories to fit our schemas of stereotypes
Outgroup homogeneity bias
Us vs. them; we know how diverse our group is however we group another as all the same
Types of memory: declarative
Factual memory
Types of memory: Implicit (procedural)
Muscle memory; ex: riding a bike
Types of memory: Retrospective and prospective
Memories about the past and the future
Types of memory: Extended mind theory (Google theory)
Memory can be extended onto other things such as paper or a computer to remember later
Declarative memory: episodic
Autobiography; personal memories
Declarative memory: semantic
Non-personal general information
Declarative memory: verbal
Memory about language
