Reconstructive memory Flashcards
1
Q
What is a piece of research that supports reconstructive memory?
A
- Bartlett 1932
- War of the ghost story
2
Q
What is schema?
A
- a mental structure or package containing out stored knowledge or an aspect of the world
- knowledge for people objects and events
3
Q
How does schema affect our memory?
A
- by influencing what we store and what we recall
- meaning some parts of our memory are missing distorted or added
4
Q
What is shortening?
A
- parts of memory that don’t fit in schema
5
Q
Why/ when is shortening used?
A
- remembering is shorter
- unfamiliar or unexpected details
6
Q
What is reconstructive memory?
A
- store fragments of information in the long-term memory once recalled these fragments form a meaningful whole
7
Q
What does reconstructive memory form?
A
- results in not totally accurate records of what happened
8
Q
What is rationalisation?
A
- parts of memory are recalled but distorted to fit into schema
- memory of an event changes as it doesn’t fit relevant schema
- strange or unfamiliar events make sense
9
Q
What is confabulation?
A
- parts of memory invented to fill gaps
10
Q
What is confabulation guided by?
A
- schemas to make better sense of memory
11
Q
What is a practical application strength of reconstructive memory?
A
- eye witnesses are used in court to understand what happened
- however are not fully reliable due to confabulation and therefore should use other evidence additionally
12
Q
What is a weakness of reconstructive memory?
A
- not all memories are affected by schemas
13
Q
How are not all memories affected by schemas?
A
- recall can be accurate (personally important or distinctive events)
- Bartlett ‘something black came out of his mouth’ remembered as it was different and weird
- shows memories can be unaffected by schema
14
Q
What are the four types of reconstructive memory?
A
- shortening
- rationalisation
- schema
- confabulation
