Forgetting

Encoding Failure 1

Retrieval Failure 2 The memory was encoded and stored, but sometimes you just cannot access the memory.

Types of Retrieval Failure 3 Proactive Interference The disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information. If you call your new girlfriend your old girlfriend’s name.

Proactive interference examples 3 Prior learning interferes with new information Name of old girlfriend – confused with name of new girlfriend Old locker combination – prevents learning new combination Old cell phone number – prevents learning new cell phone number

Types of Retrieval Failure 5 Retroactive Interference The disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of old information. When you finally remember this years locker combination, you forget last years.

Retroactive interference 4 New learning interferes with recall of old information. In both types – material was encoded – retrieval is problem Can you remember: Your freshman locker combination What numbers do you need: Locker comb Network password Cafeteria account Gym locker comb

Figure 9.23 Proactive and retroactive interference Myers: Psychology, Eighth Edition Copyright © 2007 by Worth Publishers

Measures of Memory 6 In recall, the person must retrieve information using effort. (A fill-in-the blank test requires recall.) The capital of France is ______.

Measures of Memory 7 In recognition, the person must identify an item amongst other choices. (A multiple-choice test requires recognition.) Name the capital of France. Brussels Rome London Paris

Recall versus Recognition I probably cannot recall the Smurfs, but can I recognize them? Lazy Smurf or Lethargic Smurf Papa Smurf or Daddy Smurf Handy Smurf or Practical Smurf Brainy Smurf or Intellectual Smurf Clumsy Smurf or Inept Smurf

Recall v. recognition 8 Recall: Recognition: Retrieving the information without cues Fill in the blanks Recognition: Retrieving the information with cues Multiple choice tests; matching

What is happening at each stage – information drops off Why do we forget? 9 Forgetting can occur at any memory stage. We filter, alter, or lose much information during these stages. What is happening at each stage – information drops off

Storage Decay 10 Even if we encode something well, we can forget it. Without rehearsal, we forget thing over time. Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve.

Effortful learning usually requires rehearsal or conscious repetition. Ebbinghaus studied rehearsal by using nonsense syllables: TUV YOF GEK XOZ http://www.isbn3-540-21358-9.de Hermann Ebbinghaus (1850-1909)

Ebbinghaus’s Forgetting Curve 12

Ebbinghaus experiment 12 Studied forgetting Studied memory over time using nonsense symbols Spacing effect – better to study over time Notice the drop off in learning Example: studying spelling for a test Need to use material in context – helps one to remember it Study over time – better to study in 20 – 30 minute blocks at a time and then take a break Better encoding and retrieval

Motivated Forgetting 13 We sometimes revise our own histories. Honey, I did stick to my diet today!!!!!!

Motivated Forgetting 14 One explanation is REPRESSION: Why does it exist? One explanation is REPRESSION: in psychoanalytic theory, the basic defense mechanism that banishes anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings and memories from consciousness.

Motivated Forgetting 15 Motivated Forgetting: People unknowingly revise their memories. Repression: A defense mechanism that banishes anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories from consciousness. OBJECTIVE 22| Summarize Freud's concept of repression, and state whether this view is reflected in current memory research. Culver Pictures Sigmund Freud

Why do we forget? 15 Painful experiences Enables us to do this again Childbirth, surgery Repressed memories can lead to psychological problems Traumatic experiences Fires, accidents, deaths Self preservation

Source Amnesia 16 (Source Attribution) Attributing to the wrong source an event we have experienced, heard about, read about or imagined.

Attribution 16 We protect ourselves Example: Fundamental attribution error I blame the situation Others blame me Example: Basketball game Missed free throw to win the game Me: ref didn’t call a foul Others: you should have made the shot

Anterograde Amnesia 17 After losing his hippocampus in surgery, patient Henry M. (HM) remembered everything before the operation but cannot make new memories. We call this anterograde amnesia. Anterograde Amnesia (HM) Memory Intact No New Memories Surgery

50 First Dates 17 Anterograde amnesia: She remembered everything before and kept reliving the same day. H.M. – now deceased – his brain is currently being sliced up for study in a research lab

Déja Vu 18 Déja Vu means “I've experienced this before.” Cues from the current situation may unconsciously trigger retrieval of an earlier similar experience. © The New Yorker Collection, 1990. Leo Cullum from cartoonbank.com. All Rights Reserved

Other memory problems 18 Tip of the tongue phenomenon Retrieve features – not all of the concepts Retrieve incomplete information Can’t remember the test information – know that it is in your notes Mood congruent memory Recall experiences consistent with mood Upset – remember the bad times Happy – remember the good times

Measures of Memory 19 In relearning, the individual shows how much time (or effort) is saved when learning material for the second time. List Jet Dagger Tree Kite … Silk Frog Ring List Jet Dagger Tree Kite … Silk Frog Ring Original Trials Relearning Trials 1 day later Saving X 100 Relearning Trials 10 5 X 100 10 It took 10 trials to learn this list It took 5 trials to learn the list 50%

Relearning 19 Encoding material should mean that it is easier to relearn Review for AP test You knew it once, it should come back Advantage of classes with concepts that build on another – Math classes should work like this Problem – retrieval miscues can get in the way.

Misinformation Effect 20 Incorporating misleading information into one’s memory of an event. My parents told me for years I met Guidry. I have the memory- but it never happened!!!

Misinformation 20 We tend to revise “history” as we retell a story. What happens with gossip? We repeat stories and each time the story changes a bit? What happens with events like the Christmas Day bombing? How many different stories of what happened? This is call reconstructive memory. If we don’t remember something – we add additional information.

Memory Construction 21 We sometimes alter our memories as we encode or retrieve them. Your expectations, schemas, environment may alter your memories.

Constructed Memories 22 Loftus’ research shows that if false memories (lost at the mall or drowned in a lake) are implanted in individuals, they construct (fabricate) their memories. Don Shrubshell

Elizabeth Loftus 22 Studied eyewitness testimony Accuracy of eyewitness testimony influenced by way questions are phrased. Children are susceptible to having false memories planted Little correlation between witness certainty and witness accuracy Witnesses who believe they are correct – no more likely to be correct than those who are not sure.

Childhood memories 22 Consensus on childhood abuse and memories Incest and other sexual abuse happens. People may forget. Recovered memories are common. Recovered memories under drugs or hypnosis are unreliable. Memories of things happening before age 3 – unreliable Memories – real or false – are emotionally upsetting.

Misinformation Effect 23 Depiction of Accident

Misinformation Effect 24 Leading Question: About how fats were the cars going when they smashed into each other?

Misinformation effect 23 Eyewitnesses reconstruct memories when questioned. People fill in memory gaps with plausible guesses and assumptions. We don’t like gaps – we have to fill in. We don’t remember what happened when questioned – we add information. What color was the traffic light when the accident happened? Don’t know – will say red/ yellow/ green

Figure 9.26 Memory construction Myers: Psychology, Eighth Edition Copyright © 2007 by Worth Publishers

Memory Construction 24 A week later they were asked: Was there any broken glass? Group B (smashed into) reported more broken glass than Group A (hit).