Reconstructive memory

Question 1

Reconstructive memory

Answer 1

• Fragments of stored information are reassembled during recall
• The gaps are filled in by our expectations and beliefs so that we can produce a ‘story’ that makes sense

Question 2

Schema

Answer 2

• A mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing
• We are born with some schemas, but they develop in complexity with experience of the world

Question 3

How schemas affect your memory?

Answer 3

• Schemas are parcels of information that stores our knowledge about the world based on our experiences
• They can help us shape our expectations of events or people. Which also helps us predicts future events based on our experiences
• Confabulation, Levelling and Rationalisation

Question 4

Confabulation

Answer 4

• Details are changed or added so that the story makes more sense to the person. Details are changed so they are more aligned with someone’s schemas

Question 5

Levelling

Answer 5

• Memories are shortened. Only leaving what your schemas suggest are important

Question 6

Rationalization

Answer 6

• Parts of the story are changed
• Sections deemed irrational to the person’s schemas are adjusted
• This can be in the form of character motivation, the order of events in the story or reasoning behind the behaviour

Question 7

Strength of reconstructive memory

Answer 7

• One strength of reconstructive memory is that Bartlett’s War of Ghost study demonstrates how memories can be distorted
• 20 British participants were asked to recall and unfamiliar Native American story called ‘War of Ghosts’ over differing period of time. The changes in the participants were recorded
• They found that memories were shortened and details were changed to better fit British expectation and vocabulary
• Canoe was often changed to boat
• This suggests that memories are susceptible to changes and distortion based on expectation and schemas

Question 8

Weakness of reconstructive memory

Answer 8

• One weakness of reconstructive memory is that Wynn and Logie found differing results
• They tested the memory of 1st year psychology students recalling places and events of their 1st week at university
• They found that compared to Bartlett’s study there were far fewer changes in the student’s memories of the events
• Suggesting that this is because the students had schemas for the university events
• This suggests that event that more familiar and are more relatable to the person, the person’ memory changed less
• Meaning that Bartlett’s observation may only be applicable to new events