recall
retrieving a memory with an external cue
recognition
the process of matching a current event or fact with one already in memory
relearning
a measure of memory that assesses the amount of time saved when learning material for a second time
Priming
providing cues that stimulate memories without awareness of the connection between the cue and the retrieved memory- predisposes use to interpret info a certain way
mood-congruent memory
the tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one's current good or bad mood
serial position effect
our tendency to recall best the last (a recency effect) and first items (a primacy effect) in a list
anterograde amnesia
an inability to form new memories
retrograde amnesia
loss of memory from the point of some injury or trauma backwards
Retroactive interference
learning new information interferes with the recall of older information Ex: studying for psych at 3:00 and bio at 6:00
proactive interference
Older information learned previously interferes with the recall of information learned more recently.
Repression
Defense mechanism by which anxiety-provoking thoughts and feelings are forced to the unconscious.
Misinformation
incorporating misleading information into one's memory of an event
source amnesia
attributing to the wrong source an event we have experienced
deja vu
that eerie sense that "I've experienced this before." Cues from the current situation may subconsciously trigger retrieval of an earlier experience.
cognition
all the mental activities associated with thinking
concept
cognitive rules we apply to stimuli from our environment that allow us to categorize and think about objects
prototype
a mental image or best example of a category
creativity
The ability to make or bring a new concept or idea into existence; marked by the ability or power to create.
convergent thinking
narrows the available problem solutions to determine the single best solution
divergent thinking
expands the number of possible problem solutions (creative thinking that diverges in different directions)
Heuristic
a rule-of-thumb problem-solving strategy used to make a judgement in a situation