Reconstructive memory

Question 1

What is this argument? Give at least 3 characteristics of memory that explains why we think memory is reconstructive.

Answer 1

Memory is malleable and can be changed each time we recall it or by the influence of other people and social media

• The consistency of details decreases over time
• We use assimilation, leveling, and sharpening, which distort our memories
• False memories can be easily planted

Question 2

How do schemas help with the reconstruction process?

Answer 2

We use assimilation, leveling, and sharpening to make new information fit our pre-existing schemas, which distort our memories

Question 3

Name the distortion in Bartlett’s findings that shows we reconstruct memories based on our prior knowledge

Answer 3

Cultural distortion? Terminology of certain words in the story that was recounted was changed suited with the individual’s cultural identification of those specific items

Question 4

Name the distortion in Bartlett’s findings that shows that memory is incomplete.

Answer 4

(NS) Aspects in the story that were especially unfamiliar to participants were simplified, the format of the story changed (not accurate)

Question 5

How does Exp 2 by Loftus & Palmer show that we reconstruct memories?

Answer 5

Loftus and Palmer lost in the mall experiment

• Shows how false memories can be implanted
• Family members affirmed the false memory
• 24% of participants believed
• Shows how the influence of others is able to distort our memories

Question 6

Identify 2+ techniques used by Shaw and Porter to use this reconstruction process to the extreme

Answer 6

Phase 1: Family informant questionnaire to support criminal story
Phase 2: 3 Interview sessions with 60 college age participants:
- Use of accurate cues from family questionnaire
- Encouragement from interviewer
- Social Pressure
- Building rapport
- Use of guided imagery and visualization techniques
- Open ended prompts
- Use of participants existing schemas
- Passage of time - the longer the study went on the more the participants believed that the incident did indeed take place

Question 7

What 2 things did Shaw and Porter use to consider a memory false?

Answer 7

Believed that they had forgotten the event and that it actually happened
Citing 10 critical false details presented by the researchers

Question 8

What % of participants could be made to create false memory of crimes?

Answer 8

70%