Constructive Memory and Memory Updating

Describe MPI/misinformation and imagination inflation.

Give examples of each.

Misinformation Paradigm Intervention (MPI)

• refers to how post-event information can alter an individual's recollection of an event

Example

• if someone witnesses a car accident and later hears a false description of the event, it may change their memory of what actually happened

Imagination Inflation

• occurs when imagining an event increases confidence that it actually occurred.

Example

• when someone vividly imagines attending a family reunion, leading them to believe they have real memories of that event.

Imagine that you are hired at a public relations firm to spread the message that Sour Patch Kids are a healthy alternative to vegetables.

Using your knowledge of the principles of familiarity, how might you go about convincing people that this is true?

You could leverage the principle of familiarity by repeatedly exposing the audience to advertisements that highlight the candy's fruity flavors and ingredients, framing them as natural sources of energy and fun.

Associate positive experiences and testimonials with Sour Patch Kids can enhance their appeal, creating a sense of comfort and positive recognition in consumers' minds.

How do schemas contribute to constructive memory?

Use at least one example in your explanation.

Schemas

• help individuals organize and interpret information, influencing how they encode and recall memories

Example

• if someone has a schema about weddings, they might remember a friend's wedding as having specific traditional elements, even if those details did not occur, leading to a constructed memory based on their expectations

What is the DRM task?

How does it demonstrate spontaneous false memories?

The DRM (Deese-Roediger-McDermott) Task

• a psychological experiment that demonstrates spontaneous false memories by presenting participants with lists of related words, which leads them to recall or recognize a non-presented word related to the list.

After reading a news article about a woman who recovered repressed memories of childhood abuse, your friend starts to think she too may have been abused as a child.

Given your knowledge of autobiographical memory, emotions, traumatic memories, and memory errors, what would you tell her?

It's important to remember that autobiographical memories can be influenced by emotions and external suggestions, leading to potential memory errors.

Just because you've read about someone else's experience doesn't mean it reflects your own reality.

These memories can be constructed or altered by various factors, so it's crucial to approach such feelings with caution and seek professional guidance if needed.

Are flashbulb memories different from other kinds of memories?

Include in your answer a comparison of how flashbulb memories feel versus the actual data surrounding these memories.

Flashbulb Memories

• vivid, detailed recollections of significant events, often accompanied by strong emotions.

Unlike regular memories, which may fade or change over time, flashbulb memories feel particularly intense and stable, yet research shows that they are still susceptible to inaccuracies, often differing from the factual details surrounding the event.

Discuss the retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) theory, and include at least one theorized mechanism and one example of how it might be beneficial in everyday life.

Retrieval-Induced Forgetting (RIF) Theory

• suggests that recalling certain information can impair the memory of related, non-recalled information.

Theorized Mechanism

• the act of retrieval strengthens some memories while inhibiting others, effectively prioritizing more relevant information.

Example

• when studying for an exam, focusing on specific topics may lead to forgetting less relevant details, thereby enhancing overall performance.

Briefly describe a reconsolidation experiment (like Nader’s with the rat fear conditioning that we discussed in class) that suggests a memory may be “vulnerable” (or adaptable) when retrieved.

Reconsolidation Experiments

• Nader's rat fear conditioning study

• demonstrate that memories are vulnerable to alteration upon retrieval.

After a memory is recalled, it enters a flexible state where it can be modified or updated before being stored again, indicating that memories can change based on new information or contextual cues.