Theory of Reconstructive Memory

• What is a schema?

  A mental representation of something, based on prior experiences.
• What is a leading question?


  A question that suggests what answer is desired or leads to the desired answer.
• What does the theory state?


  Memory is not an accurate representation of past experiences. Instead, it is based on schemas and prior experiences.
• Explain why 2 people could have different memories of the same event

  Our memory is influenced by schemas and prior experiences, meaning that our recall is likely to be inaccurate.
• What is memory distortion?


  When memories are changed/altered in some way
• How do leading questions relate to the theory?


  Leading questions can be effective in manipulating people's memories through suggestion. (e.g. bump and smash)
• What is confabulation?


  'Honest lying' - individuals will inaccurately describe their memories
• Criticisms of the theory?


  1. Reductionist - focuses too much on how we create schemas, but fails to explain how these processes happen in the brain.
  2. The theory's concept of schemas is too vague and hypothetical to be useful - as scans only show brain activity but not what is being processed.
  3. Barlett based his theory on the 'War of the Ghosts' research, but it lacked validity due to demand characteristics - so it does not offer valid support.
  4. The theory is very complicated and hard to test - therefore it is difficult to predict how people will recall information.
• How is the theory reductionist?


  It focuses on how we create schemas but fails to explain how these processes happen in the brain.
• How is the theory's concept of schemas too vague and hypothetical?


  Scans can only show brain activity, not what is being processed. (e.g. being able to observe schema)
• Why does the 'War of the Ghosts' research not offer valid support for the theory? 


  It was not standardised and lacked validity because of demand characteristics.