Chapter 6 - memory in context

memory errors

connections can lead to memory errors, shared connections make similiar memories less distinguishable

intrusion error

error in which other knowledge intrudes into memory for event

DRM Procedure

1. read a list of related words

2. participants recall the central word, even though it is not listed

3. Conclusions: memory is constructive, memory connections help recall but can lead to memory errors

Remembering (Bartlett)

1. Participants read a story twice

2. recounted their memory of story after 15mins and at later occasions as opportunity permitted

non-random distortions

story becomes compact and reorganized around existing knowledge

levelling

lements of original story are lost

sharpening

details that were not in the original story are added

schema

generalized knowledge structure used for processing info

one way schemas are good

efficient at storing memory

problematic things about schemas

can cause memory errors:

• memories tend to be regularized

• memories biased in favour of schema

source montering

cognitive functioning through which original context of info, thoughts, or episodes is reconstructed

discontinuing cue

contextual information that raises suspicion of message validity