Generic memory

what is generic memory

it is a type of explicit memory
- its the knowledge of facts, concepts and meanings
- there is no context associated

what are facts

they are general knowledge
- EX) the knowledge of names and things

what is a concept

concepts are the descriptions of words
- they are the mental representations of things
- they are abstractions

does generic memory contain context?

NO!
- where and when concepts or facts are learned are not linked to the memories

where is generic memory stored?

the neocortex

what is the neocortex

It is the largest part of the cerebral cortex
- it is involved in higher functions like sensory perception, spatial reasoning or language
- over time information from certain memories that are temporarily stored in the hippocampus can be transferred to the neocortex as general knowledge

what are the 3 levels of categorization

superordinate, basic, and subordinate

what are superordinate categories

the most general way to classify something
- they can continue forever
EX) animal not dog

what are basic categories

they are more specific than superordinate concepts
- they contain more features
EX) dog rather than a specific breed

what are subordinate categories

they are much more specific
EX) chocolate labs or your specific dog

why do we categorize?

they make our lives easier and automatic
- they make it so we require less retrieval of memories (because retrieval takes energy and is effortful)
- they help us predict our environment

what is the problem with categorization

we form these categories automatically and use them in the same way
- we over categorize
- we do it wrong
- we misinterpret categories

how does miscategorization occur?

stuff is coming in and we are stripping it of context, then forcing it into a category that it doesnt perfectly match

what is a schema

they are cognitive frameworks that help organize and interpret information
- they allow us to make predictions and organize info
- they link info together
- they help us make decisions

what is the problem with schemas

not everything is encoded the same so we can create the wrong schemas
- this leads to prejudice

what are the 5 operations of schemas

encoding:
- selection
- abstraction
- interpretation
- integration
retrieval:
- reconstruction

what is selection

this is the process when schemas identify what is more relevant
- we pay the most attention to what is unusual so we can find the closest schema

what is abstraction

this is when the selected information is converted to a more basic form, consistent with the structure of a schema
- things get broken down and put into the right schemas

what is interpretation

this is when relevant information is used on abstracted information

what is integration

this is when information is integrated into a single memory trace

what is reconstruction

this is when information is forgotten it is filled in wth the schema consistent knowledge

what are scripts

these define our situations and guide our behaviour
- these are stored in the temporal lobe
- EX) what happens in a restaurant

is memory driven by the use of schemas or scripts

Not necessarily
- people misremember info in an order that more closely corresponds to a script
- people take longer to read info that doesnt match a script
- people remember better if the situation matches the script or schema

what is the main result of the forming of impressions experiment

even though the ratio of positive and negative events was exactly the same for group A and group B, most people will see group B in a more negative way wh

what is illusionary correlation

this is the perception of a relationship where none exist, or a perception of a stronger relationship than actually exist
- the false impression that 2 variables correlate
- this is the reason 2 people can become prejudice