Psychology 2e - Chapter 8 Memory

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and terms from Chapter 8 on Memory in Psychology.

Memory

An information processing system used to encode, store, and retrieve information.

Encoding

The input of information into the memory system.

Storage

The retention of encoded information over time.

Retrieval

The act of getting information out of memory and back into awareness.

Automatic processing

Encoding of details like time and space usually done without conscious awareness.

Effortful processing

Encoding that takes time and effort, such as learning new skills.

Semantic encoding

Encoding of words and their meanings, the most effective form of encoding.

Visual encoding

Encoding of images, where concrete words are easier to recall than abstract ones.

Acoustic encoding

Encoding of sounds, often related to self-reference effect.

Sensory memory

Storage of brief sensory events, lasting up to a couple of seconds.

Short-term memory (STM)

A temporary storage system that lasts about 20 seconds and processes incoming information.

Long-term memory

Continuous storage of information with no limit, like a computer's hard drive.

Explicit memory

Memories of facts and events that can be consciously recalled.

Implicit memory

Memories that are not part of our consciousness and formed through behaviors.

Amnesia

Loss of long-term memory resulting from disease, trauma, or psychological factors.

The Stroop effect

Demonstrates difficulty in naming a color when the word and the color differ.

Flashbulb memory

A vivid, detailed memory of an emotional event.

Suggestibility

The effects of misinformation that leads to the creation of false memories.

Interference

A failure to retrieve information due to either retroactive or proactive causes.

Ebbinghaus forgetting curve

Illustrates how quickly memory for new information decays overtime.

Chunking

Organizing information into manageable bits to enhance memory.

Mnemonic devices

Memory aids that help in organization and encoding of information.

Memory consolidation

The process of transferring short-term memory to long-term memory.