Bartlett’s Reconstructive Memory

What is Bartlett’s reconstructive memory model?

Bartlett suggested memory is not perfectly formed, encoded and retrieved. It is more of a reconstruction of our lives than a tape recording.

What is a schema?

An organised package of information that stores our knowledge about the world.

Schemas can be used to predict things, alter memories and make short cuts when encountering new situations saving your brains processing power.

E.g. the schema for a restaurant could be busy tables, families and the smell of food

Confabulation

When details are added or changed to align with someone’s schema or culture. E.g. changing the word canoe to boat in the War of the ghost story

Levelling

When memories are shortened by omitting information that is unimportant e.g. someone’s hair colour when describing a date

Rationalisation

When parts of a memory are changed as they were deemed too irrational or adding information to make a memory seem more rational. E.g. a theif could be recalled as wearing a disguise as that is more rational then them being uncovered

Strength of Bartletts Reconstructive Memory

I: It has had useful, real-life applications in the legal field

J: Eyewitnesses were deemed unreliable as they may recall what they expect to have seen rather than what the actually say which is explained by the role of schemas

E: Due to this, criminal convictions are no longer made solely based on eyewitness testimonies, reducing the rate of inaccurate convictions

Weakness of Bartlett’s Reconstructive Memory Model

I: Further research shows that Bartlett may be incorrect in stating that our memories are reconstructed and therefore recalled differently

J: Wynn and Logie replicated Bartletts ‘War of the Ghosts’ study using psychology students. They were asked to recall their first week at university and found only a small reduction in information recalled 6 months later.

E: Therefore, real life situations that are more familiar may be less susceptible to the reconstruction suggested by Bartlett and are indeed more like a tape recorder