Psy 301- Memory Lecture

Memory Demonstration

• The demonstration involves recalling a list of words.

• Participants are asked to write down as many words as they can remember after the list is read.

• Importance of only including the words they actually remembered when responding to the survey.

Short Term Memory Capacity

• Most individuals can remember between 5 and 9 words.

• This aligns with decades of research on short-term memory capacity.

Serial Position Effects

Primacy Effect

• Refers to the phenomenon where items presented first in a list are remembered better.

• This occurs because there’s no interference from preceding items.

Recency Effect

• Items presented last in a list tend to be remembered better as well.

• This is due to these items being the most recent and thus less likely to be interfered with.

Patterns in Memory

• Shorter words are typically remembered better than longer words.

• Examples of poorly remembered words include "events," "identical," and "nervous."

• Words with emotional significance, such as "divorce," are more likely to be remembered due to their emotional salience.

Personal Relevance in Memory

• Emotionally charged or personally relevant words stick in memory better.

• Techniques to facilitate memory include personal connections and relevance.

• Studying methods should consider personal connection to the material.

Techniques for Effective Study

• Shuffle flashcards to avoid serial order effects.

• Be mindful of position in discussion or interviews to leverage these effects advantageously.

Moving from Short Term to Long Term Memory

• Rehearsal is crucial for transferring information to long-term memory.

Illustrative Example

• A vintage film demonstrates children recalling a complex telephone message, highlighting how memory works in children and the effectiveness of rehearsal.

• Issues with recalling names due to lack of initial attention are discussed, underscoring the concept of encoding and rehearsal in memory retention.

Memory Reconstruction

• Memory is not a direct playback of events; it is reconstructed each time it is recalled.

• Participants demonstrated the impact of rehearsing only known parts of a memory rather than addressing uncertainties.

Another Memory Demonstration

Second List of Words

• Participants are introduced to a new list of words related to sleep (e.g., bed, rest, dream).

• The counting exercise is intended to interfere with memory recall.

Spreading Activation

• The phenomenon where related words activate thoughts related to other concepts (e.g., sleep activating memories of bed and rest).

• A significant number of participants falsely recalled hearing the word "sleep."

Recall Bias in Eyewitness Testimony

• Demonstration of how the wording of questions can influence memory (e.g., "hit" vs. "smashed" cars).

• Elizabeth Loftus’s research on retroactive interference highlights how memory can be affected by subsequent information.

Consequences of Memory Distortion

• The implications of memory perception on eyewitness testimonies in legal situations are discussed.

• Participants inaccurately reported seeing non-existent objects (like a giraffe) based on suggestion and prior context.

Key Takeaways

• Memory depends on context, emotional relevance, and the order of information presentation.

• Personal involvement and emotional significance enhance recall abilities.