COGNITIVE APPROACH- Reconstructive memory and emotion

Reconstructive Memory

States that memory is not an entirely accurate and complete reproduction of events but rather a reconstruction.

We recall the outline of the event, and use schemas to help fill in the gaps of information.

Reliability of memory

Memory is often distorted, therefore it is not fully reliable. memory could have been influenced by factors outside of the actual event.

Loftus and Palmer (1974) Aim

To investigate whether the use of leading questions would affect eyewitness's estimation of speed.

Loftus and Palmer (1974) Procedure

-The study consisted of two laboratory experiments, both of which used an independent measures design.

- They were each shown the same seven film-clips of traffic accidents.

- The IV in both experiments was the verb used.

- The DV in the first experiment is the Participants speed estimate and the DV in the second experiment is whether the Participants believed they saw glass or not.

- The critical verb was changed for each group, including 'hit', 'smashed', 'collided', 'bumped' and 'contacted'.

Loftus and Palmer (1974) Findings

Experiment 1: Mean speed given for each of the different verbs. The verb 'smashed' elicited a higher speed estimate that the verb 'contacted'.

Experiment 2: the use of different verbs affected whether the participant claimed having seen any broken glass (stronger verb -> higher tendency to expect broken glass)

Loftus and Palmer (1974) Implications

- the participants' memories of the car accidents were influenced by the verbs used in the questions (e.g., "smashed" vs. "contacted"), leading to altered speed estimates.

- shows how external language cues can alter the reconstruction of memory, making participants "remember" the event differently than it occurred.

Emotion

- a complex experience which results in changes including physiological arousal, subjective feelings and associated behaviour.

- It is generally a response to a situation which a person perceives to be important or significant.

- Emotions are universal.

Flashbulb Memory

a highly detailed, exceptionally vivid "snapshot" of the moment when a surprising and emotionally arousing event happened.

Transactive Memory

- collective memory shared within members of a group.

- memories of each individual - memories about where the individual can find specific other memories.

Brown & Kulik (AIM)

To investigate whether shocking events are recalled more vividly and accurately than other events. Flashbulb memory.

Brown & Kulik (PROCEDURE)

Natural experiment

The researchers administered questionnaires to 80 US participants

They asked questions about their memories of major events in history, including the assassination of JFK, other assassinations, newsworthy events, and personally significant events

Brown & Kulik (RESULTS)

Participants remembered flashbulb events with incredible clarity and vivid detail.

There were two requirements for flashbulb memory. A high level of surprise and consequentiality is measured through emotional arousal.

White participants remembered the death of JFK better, while black participants remembered more about black civil rights activist Medgar Evers. By contrast, white participants remembered virtually nothing about Medgar Evers.

Presumably, those differences in memory occurred because of differing degrees of consequentiality to white and black participants.

Brown & Kulik (Implications)

The study found that emotionally charged events (like the assassination of JFK) are more vividly remembered than neutral events.

The strong emotional impact of these events leads to "flashbulb memories," where people recall details with high clarity and confidence, even long after the event.