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.