Obstacles And Illusions Flashcards
Actors and Comedians need word for word memorization - requires special memory system - most memory systems are too general for the task and lack the strength to withstand stress and distraction
Method of Loci (aka-palace/journey) is great for general sequential memory tasks where paraphrasing of material is sufficient (not line for line) and it is also vulnerable to stress and distraction
Line for line memorization needs long term memory stability - however short term memory is first step - material must first be processed through short term memory and then transferred to long term memory
3 separate challenges - line for line memorization is actually 3 separate challenges: working around short term memory limitations, the transferring of short term memory into long term memory and the retrieval of material from long term memory to active consciousness
Short Term Memory Illusion - belief that you have fully memorized material when you only have achieved unstable short term memory
2 broad memory categories - long term and short term - primary weaknesses of short term memory are instability and capacity limits - primary weakness of long term memory is that it is time consuming to do it right
Mindset - self fulfilling prophesy - if you believe you have a poor memory it can become a self fulfilling prophesy - the opposite is also true - if you believe you have a good memory it can also be a self fulfilling prophesy - you will try harder and generate greater success
Memory is like a muscle - it can atrophy without use - however - you can also strengthen it with use - the more you use it, the stronger it gets - use it or lose it
Memory is democratic - we all share 7 item limitation within short term memory Even people who have developed strong (amazing) memories
Even “amazing” memory feats - such as 82 digits in 20 seconds - do not solely
rely on short term memory - long term memory knowledge is leveraged to make short term memory stronger (similar to method of loci) and short time frame can intensify focus for 20 seconds to assure that no distractions occur (short term memory is as strong as long term but is unstable - not an issue with 20 second time frame)
Time and effort - no way out - however with that necessity in mind the best strategy is to develop a memory system that matches your needs (line for line) and is as efficient, productive and strong as possible (greatest benefit for the least amount of work)
Everyone has 7 item limit within short term memory - chunking is “trick” that organizes individual items into larger units to increase the amount of material in short term memory - the limit is still 7 items (the size of each item is bigger)
Terrible memory habit - absent-minded repetition - reading script over and over - false belief that repetition is memory - it is a waste of time - there is no reward for time invested - active engagement is required for productive memorization
Recognition Memory Illusion - aka - absent-minded illusion - belief associated with absent-minded repetition memory process when you know what comes next in the script - mistaking that recognition for memory - it’s not memory
Environmental Memory Illusion
partial memory that feels like full memory Occurs when memory work has been done in one place - example - office or bedroom or bathroom - but memory is not yet fully transferable to other environments (solved by doing memory work within multiple environments -
form of stress testing)
Physical Movement Memory Illusion
belief that full memorization has been achieved when actual memory is
tied to physical patterns used during memorization - example - pacing -
the physical movement becomes an unconscious crutch - must be able to remember without the physical pattern (solved by changing physical movement during memorization - form of stress testing)
Unconscious Rhythmic Patterns that block authenticity during delivery and that also serve as unconscious memory crutch (solved by singing lines - replaces unconscious rhythmic patterns)
