Video Module 15: Memory Errors

Question 1

Is memory more like a video camera or like a reconstructive process?

Answer 1

Memory is a reconstructive process. Recalling information involves reactivating nodes and connections from the original memory (when info was originally encoded).
- we do not always recall accurate info
- we use spreading activation from a retrieval cue to recall information.

Question 2

intrusion errors

Answer 2

errors in recalling information in which a person falsely remembers something that was not present during encoding
- occur when our memories are connected to nodes which are not part of the original experiences.
- well-connected memories are easy to retrieve through spreading activation, but more retrieval cues = more chance for errors

Question 3

schematic knowledge

Answer 3

knowledge that we have about what is typical or frequent in a particular situation
- situations are stored as schemas in our memory
- schemas are built through prior experiences
- schemas can fill-in the gaps of fuzzy memories, however they can also lead to intrusion errors

Question 4

What is the (DRM) Procedure? How does it help us test schematic knowledge?

Answer 4

The DRM Procedure is a task where participants are presented with a list of words that they will be asked to recall later through a recognition task (e.g. selecting which words they remember seeing). Participants tend to recall seeing thematically appropriate words that were not presented to them.
This helps us test schematic knowledge because it tells us that we rely on the theme of the list to help us recall which words we saw. In other words, we use schematic knowledge.
Participants tend to remember far more words in semantically related lists than semantically unrelated lists.

Question 5

misinformation effect

Answer 5

In which memory errors occur after memories are contaminated through the introduction of false ideas.
- misinformation becomes incorporated in the actual memory
- memories can become contaminated through: misleading questions, false suggestions, fake “evidence”, asking people to make-up answers when recalling info
- when new info gets incorporated into a memory at the time of recall, the memory will be stored with the new info now attached to it

Question 6

Is confidence always a good indicator of memory accuracy?

Answer 6

No. Confidence is not always a good indicator of memory accuracy because the confidence of a memory can be altered without changing the memory itself, or vice-versa. An individual can be reassured of the accuracy of their memory without the memory itself being accurate.
An example of this is flashbulb memories, which tend to be vivid in detail but not always accurate.

Question 7

flashbulb memories

Answer 7

episodic memories people have for important, exciting, or devastating events which people typically recall in great detail.
- Studies based on people’s recollection of the assassination of JFK and the Challenger explosion found that participants had vivid perceptual and emotional details of the events in their memories.
- A study on the Challenger explosion found many discrepancies between people’s initial recollections and those after some period of time, showing that flashbulb memories may be vivid, but they are not always accurate

Question 8

When is confidence a good indicator of memory veracity/accuracy?

Answer 8

Confidence is a good indicator of accuracy if the memory is not contaminated. In other words, if a memory has not been disturbed by events or suggestions from others, then high confidence can suggest high accuracy of a memory.

Question 9

Why might flashbulb memories be inaccurate?

Answer 9

Flashbulb memories are those which you recall frequently. The more times one retrieves a memory, the more times that memory may be contaminated by new info that will alter the content of that memory when it is stored again. People often feel as though they are resistant to forgetting flashbulb memories, however they are still susceptible to decay, interference, and misinformation.

Question 10

What are three ways that we can avoid memory errors?

Answer 10

1) making info personally relevant: we tend to have better memory for info when it is relevant to our experience (self-reference effect)
2) investing emotion: amygdala activation is related to better memory consolidation, narrowing of attention, and increased rehearsal
3) facilitating memory consolidation through sleep: the hippocampus and amygdala work together to cement memories into place, and this activity is facilitated with sleeping