Exam 2 Myths of Memory

Modules 5-7: 7 sins of memory, Transience and Blocking, Absentmindedness

Construct Validity

The degree to which a test measures what it claims to be measuring.

Internal Validity

The extent to which a study can establish a causal relationship between variables, free from confounding factors.

External Validity

The generalizability of study findings to settings, populations, and times beyond the study.

Statistical Validity

The accuracy of the conclusions drawn from statistical analyses in a study.

Phonological Similarity Effect

The phenomenon where items that sound similar are more difficult to remember than items that sound different.

Word Length Effect

The tendency for shorter words to be recalled better than longer words due to the time it takes to rehearse them.

Central Executive

The component of working memory that directs attention and coordinates information from different sources.

Semi-Automatic Control

A low track mode of control in working memory that operates with minimal conscious effort.

Supervisory Attentional System (SAS)

A high track mode of control in working memory that requires conscious effort and decision-making.

Episodic Buffer

A component of working memory that integrates information from different modalities and links it to long-term memory.

Visual Semantics

The aspect of memory that involves the processing of visual information such as color, shape, and spatial awareness.

Dual-Coding Hypothesis

The theory that memory is enhanced when information is encoded both visually and verbally.

Transfer Appropriate Processing (TAP)

The principle that memory retention is improved when the encoding and retrieval processes are congruent.

Free-Recall

A memory retrieval practice where individuals write down what they remember without cues.

Mental Time Travel

The ability to recall past events, including the context of what, where, and when they occurred.

Transience

The decreasing accessibility of memory over time, leading to forgetting.

Absentmindedness

A lapse in attention that results in forgetting information.

Blocking

A phenomenon where information is present but temporarily inaccessible, often experienced as the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon.

Misattribution

The error of attributing a memory to the wrong source, leading to false recognition.

Suggestibility

The distortion of memory due to external suggestions or misinformation.

Bias

The influence of current beliefs or feelings on the recollection of past memories.

Persistence

The phenomenon of unwanted memories that cannot be forgotten, often related to trauma.

Recognition

A type of memory retrieval that involves identifying previously learned information.

Cued Recall

A memory retrieval method that uses prompts or cues to aid in recalling information.

Semantic Distinctiveness

The concept that unique or unusual information is more easily remembered.

Context-Dependent Memory

The improved recall of information when the context at retrieval matches the context at encoding.

State-Dependent Memory

The phenomenon where memory retrieval is influenced by the physiological state during encoding.

Mood-Congruent Memory

The tendency to recall memories that match one's current emotional state.

Priming

The activation of particular associations in memory, often occurring unconsciously.

Episodic memory

longterm storage of personal experience and everyday events

Semantic Memory

long term storage of facts and concepts

Implicit memory

long term storage and unconscious influence of experience and behaviors

Procedural memory

long term storage that aids in the performance of a particular types of tasks without conscious awareness

7 sins of memory

Transience, Absentmindedness, Blocking, Misattributing, Suggestibility, Bias, Persistence

Transience

decreasing accessibility of memory over time (Childhood amnesia)

Absentmindedness

lapse of attention causing forgetting (Where are my keys?)

Blocking

Info is present but temporarily unaccessible (tip-of-the-tongue)

Retrograde Amnesia

interrupts storage of storage of memories of events just before trauma

Anterograde Amnesia

difficulty remembering new info after trauma

Sins of Forgetting

Transience, Absentmindedness, Blocking

Misattribution

memories are attributed to the wrong source (confusing a dream for a memory)

Suggestability

When a memory is distorted due to suggestions implanted by others (smash vs bump in regards to a car accident)

Flashbulb Memory

A highly vivid detailed memory of unexpected or traumatic event

False memory

a memory of a event that didn’t actually happen

Bias

current attitudes, beliefs, or feelings distant memories from the past

Consistency Bias

recall past feelings/actions in a way that aligns them with current beliefs

Hindsight Bias

“I knew it all along”

Egocentric Bias

recall past events in favorable light to self (fight with brother → he started it)

Stereotype Bias

using generic description of past experience to categorize people/ objects

3 sins of Misremembering

Misattribution, Suggestibility, Bias

Sin of not being able to forget

Persistence