Reconstructive memory Flashcards
What does Reconstructive memory say about retrieval of memory?
It is a reconstructive active process rebuilding a memory, memories are like a jigsaw rather than a video
What might influence the recall/reconstruction of memories?
Past experiences and you perceptions
What is a schema?
A mental representation/script of events- what you expect to happen
What is confabulation?
When gaps in your memory are filled in using your schemas
Omission is?
When information is missed out/forgotten from your memories because it doesn’t fit your schema
Rationalisation is?
When memories are changed so that they make sense
Accommodation is?
When memories are changed so that they fit your schema
What did Bartlett find?
He showed people omitted information and changed other bits which didn’t fit their expectations in the war of ghosts story e.g. changing the ghosts
What did Loftus & Palmer find?
Leading questions were able to alter/influence people’s memories showing that memories can be altered
What did Yullie & Cutshall find?
Reconstruction of memories didn’t happen much in a real life robbery case and leading questions had little impact
What did Brewer and Treyven’s find?
Things which don’t fit into schemas ie. a skull in an office might be better remembered in some cases
Why is this applicable/useful in the real world?
It explains why Eye Witness Testimony can be incorrect and what police can do to improve it (cognitive interview)
Why is this better than other theories like MSM?
It includes the concepts of schemas which can explain why people might recall incorrectly whereas other theories don’t
Why is MSM better than reconstructive memory?
It talks about storage and encoding of memories so is a more complete explanation of memory whereas Reconstructive doesn’t
What is an issue with the testability of the theory?
Schemas cannot be directly empirically tested
