Memory Construction

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to memory construction, including memory processes, types of forgetting, distortions in memory, and factors influencing memory encoding and retrieval.

Context Effects

Memory does not function uniformly in every situation; external factors can influence recall.

State-dependent Memory

The principle that information learned in a specific state (e.g., drunk or sober) is better recalled in that same state.

Mood Congruent Memory

The tendency to recall experiences that match one's current mood, whether good or bad.

Forgetting

The process by which we discard or fail to retrieve information, which can help prevent our consciousness from becoming cluttered.

Absent-mindedness

A sin of forgetting characterized by inattention leading to encoding failure.

Transience

Storage decay over time, leading to forgetting.

Blocking

A sin of forgetting where stored information becomes inaccessible.

Misattribution

Confusing the source of a memory, attributing it to the wrong origin.

Suggestibility

The effects of misleading information on memory recall.

Bias

The influence of personal beliefs on recollections, which can color the accuracy of memories.

Persistence

Unwanted memories that intrude upon conscious thought.

Selective Attention

The process of focusing only on certain stimuli while ignoring others, which can lead to encoding failure.

Storage Decay

The loss of information from memory due to the passage of time and lack of use.

Ebbinghaus Curve

A graphic representation showing retention over time, illustrating how retention drops and then levels off.

Retrieval Failure

The inability to access stored memories when needed.

Tip of the Tongue Phenomenon (TOT)

A retrieval process where partial information is accessible, indicating retrieval failure rather than encoding issues.

Interference

The confusion of information in memory, where one piece disrupts the recall of another.

Proactive Interference

When previously learned information hinders new learning.

Retroactive Interference

When new information disrupts the recall of previously learned information.

Amnesia

The loss of memory, which can be due to psychological trauma (psychogenic) or physiological reasons (organic).

Motivated Forgetting

Forgetting unpleasant information due to the desire to avoid distressing thoughts.

Repression

A defense mechanism involving the unconscious exclusion of distressing memories or thoughts.

Misinformation Effect

The incorporation of misleading information into one’s memory of an event, leading to inaccuracies.

Reconsolidation

The process by which previously stored memories are altered when they are retrieved before being stored again.

Eyewitness Testimony

The recall of events in a courtroom setting, which can often be unreliable due to incorrect recollections.