Reconstructive memory Flashcards
who came up with the theory?
Bartlett
what does reconstructive memory state?
- memories retrieved through process of rebuilding rather than remembering
- memories reconstructed each time they are recalled
- you use previous experiences to rebuild memories
- our schemas alter content of our memories
what is the schema?
we build schemas through past experiences that we see.
we use them to fill in the gaps to make memories fit with our beliefs
what is rationalisation?
memories change because the newer alteration makes it make more sense to the person
EVALUATION-Supporting
Bartlett’s war of the ghosts study-found that ppts who couldn’t remember details filled them in with schema
Loftus and Palmer-importance of schemas-watched video of car crash used word ‘smashed’ made ppts imagine car going faster than actually was
EVALUATION-Conflicting
- reductionist
- Brewer&Treyvens- people recalled items from an office they saw, results fit theory other than recalled a skill which stood out from their schemas
EVALUATION-other theories
Doesn’t consider existence of STM/LTM or ither theories of memory
EVALUATION-Usefulness
+Explains why people misremember info rather than simply forgetting it
+helps understand EWT and why it can’t be used anymore
-can’t ex0lain memory encoding or duration so why we forget things over time
EVALUATION-Testability
lacks ecological validity- war ghosts- less applicable to to real world memories
standardisation problems- makes results less reliable
EVALUATION-Conflicting
Brewer&Treyvens- people recalled items from an office they saw, the results fit the theory but recalled a skull which wasn’t part of their schema
-reductionist
EVALUATION-Other evidence
doesn’t consider other theories and doesn’t consider the existence of stm/ltm
EVALUATION-Usefulness
explains why people misremember info rather than forget altogether- strength as explains errors in the memory
EVALUATION-Testability
lacks ecological validity- war ghosts- less applicable to to real worl memories
standardisation problems- makes results less reliable
what is confabulation?
when a person is simply filling in the gaps of the memory
