Chapter 7: Memory Flashcards
Memory
ability to retain and retrieve information
Purpose of memory
to adapt to the environment
Jean Piaget
nanny claimed she and Jean were attacked, and Jean could “recall” details from the incident, but years later, the nanny said she lied, and it eventually dawned on Jean that he had been repeating what he was told so much so that it became real to him
Elizabeth Loftus
Findings: much of what we recall from our childhood is what has been told to us; Exper: showed cars crashing at stop sign, questionnaire asked what color was the car by the yield sign; people thought a yield sign was in the original video
Three basic memory processes:
1) Encoding
2) Storage
3) Retrieval
Encoding
Converting info in such a way that facilitates our storage and retrieval of it; do not record in way it is presented; highly affect by our beliefs, perception, biases, etc.
Stroop Effect
something that causes conflicts with encoding; conflicting meaning of stimuli; ex: the word “Blue” written in yellow ink
Three Memory Systems
1) sensory memory
2) Short-term memory (STM)
3) Long-term memory (LTM)
Sensory memory
Information in the form of sensations; lasts about two seconds, may be contained in STM, but usually escapes
Short-term memory (STM)
what is thought about at any given moment; is held as long as it is thought about; a CONSTRUCT
Long-term memory (LTM)
No limit to capacity; appears to be permanent; a CONSTRUCT
Anterograde Amnesia
(H. M. case) hippocampus and amygdala of the brain removed; turned patient into Dory; severely poor memory
Chunking
Instead of 4 0 7 7 8 2 7 2 2 7, chunk into 407-782-7227 for easier memory. Instead of ten separate digits, create into three “chunks”; discovered by George Miller (on STM)
George Miller and STM
can recall 7+/-2 things at a time in STM
Ways to forget:
1) Interference (proactive/retroactive)
2) Motivated forgetting (suppression - voluntary/repression - involuntary)
3) Cue-dependent
