Reconstructive

Question 1

who made the reconstructive memory theory

Answer 1

bartlett

Question 2

what does the reconstructive memory state

Answer 2

memories are reconstructed each time they’re recalled, not stored as exact replicas of experiences
memories influenced by individual experiences and cultural/social factors

Question 3

schema

Answer 3

mental framework for what to expect based on past experiences that we use to interpret new info

Question 4

assimilation

Answer 4

changing our schemas to fit what we have learnt

Question 5

accomodation

Answer 5

changing our memories to keep schemas in tact
- we do this by levelling (removing/downplaying details) and sharpening (adding/exaggerating details)

Question 6

confabulation

Answer 6

filling gaps in memory to fit schemas

Question 7

War of the Ghosts support

Answer 7

• longitudinal study where ppts had to recall a Native American folk tale even up to a year later
• in all ppts the story got more distorted over time
  e.g. Westerners shortened story by omission of info and phrases were changed to fit culture (like boats to canoes, hunting seals to fishing)

Question 8

application of reconstructive to real life

Answer 8

development of the cognitive interview with witnesses of crimes by allowing the witness to explain what they saw without chance of leading questions that could stimulate a schema to influence recall

Question 9

weakness of reconstructive theory evidence

Answer 9

evidence from bartlett and loftus and palmer comes from experiments that are artificial so lack ecological validity
- e.g. war of the ghosts story has little relevance to everyday tasks and memory

however Steyvers and Hemmer argue that hearing stories and viewing scenes is representative of real life