The theory of reconstructive memory

Memory is inaccurate

Bartlett challenged the idea that memory is an act of reproduction (like storing a photo or video), proposing that it is instead an active process. We store fragments and, when we need to recall, build them into a whole. Elements are missing and memories are not an accurate representation of what happened.

Reconstruction

Information we store in our long term memory has been changed before it is recorded. We record small pieces and then recombine them to tell a whole story.

Each time you retell the story the elements will be combined slightly differently.

Social and cultural influences

The way we store and later recombine the small pieces of our memory can be related to social and cultural expectations.

In the war of the ghosts story, participants transformed parts of the story that didn’t fit their own cultural expectations, proving that social and cultural expectations may influence storage and/or recall.

Effort after meaning

In the war of the ghosts study, what people recalled was the general meaning of events rather than specific details.

• We focus on the meaning first

• Afterwards, we make an effort to interpret the meaning in more familiar terms.

What are the 4 subheadings for the reconstructive theory of memory?

• Memory is inaccurate

• Reconstruction

• Social and cultural influences

• Effort after meaning

Evaluation: STRENGTH

Real world application - can explain problems with eyewitness testimony.

Eyewitness testimony used to be very highly regarded in court as evidence, yet Bartlett’s research showed that memory isn’t always accurate and can be affected by our expectations of what happened.

Bartlett’s research has had important consequences.

Evaluation: WEAKNESS

Suggests all memories are inaccurate or affected by expectation.

Other studies have shown that, in situations that are personally important or distinctive, we remember accurately. One example of this in the war of the ghosts story is how participants often recalled the phrase “something black came out of his mouth” as it is distinctive.

This shows that people do not always actively reconstruct memories and shows some memories are accurate.