Reconstructive memory

What are the parts of reconstructive memory?

• Not reproductions, instead reconstructions (active)

• Fragments of info piece together when recalled

• Memories not always accurate as can be influenced by other cognitive processes

1. levelling: leaving out

2. Confabulation: adding

3. Rationalisation: changing to make more consistent with own schemas

Parts of reconstructive memory supporting

War of the Ghosts

• Native American folk story, had to reproduce

• Ppts transformed story through levelling, confabulation and rationalisation to match their own culture

Refuting the Parts of reconstructive memory

Wynn and Logie

• believed War of the Ghosts story too unfamiliar so exaggerated the effects of reonstructed memory

• Asked undergrads at uni to describe first week of uni and to recall this every few weeks

• Found that no matter how many times repeated, details stayed same

Not all memories reconstructions, some are accurate reproductions

Schemas

• our mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing

• Schemas often change over time, through maturation

• Schemas are useful as helps us not get overwhelmed and acts as a short cut to process info

• Info is altered to be consistent with our past experiences

Schemas supporting

Loftus and Palmer

• car crash vids

• used questionnaire to ask ppts about speed of car after watching clip

• tested effect of verb used to describe impact of car on speed estimate

• Group A ‘smashed’ had higher speed estimate than group B ‘hit’

Supports schema theory as ppts recall of car crash changed depending on verb in critical question

Schemas refuting

Loftus and Palmer

lacked ecological validity

lab experiment - setting controlled and artificial

may not be acting naturally in answers , lack V