Reconstructive Memory

• What is a schema according to Bartlett?

  A mental script for expectations
• How are memories retrieved according to Bartlett?

  Through a constructive process that rebuilds them
• What happens to memories each time they are recalled?

  They are reconstructed and may be incorrect
• What influences the reconstruction of memories?

  Previous experiences, perceptions, and beliefs
• What is accommodation in the context of schemas?

  Altering memories to fit beliefs and experiences
• What is confabulation in memory recall?

  Filling in gaps with information from schemas
• What might happen to information that doesn't fit within a schema?

  It might be completely omitted during recall
• What is rationalization in memory recall?

  Changing memories to make them more sensible
• What did Bartlett's war of the ghosts study demonstrate?

  • Participants filled in missing information
  • Used previous experiences (schemas)
  • Example: "canoe" became "boat"
  • Example: "seal hunting" became "fishing"
• What did Loftus and Palmer's study reveal about memory reconstruction?

  • Leading questions affect memory recall
  • More violent verbs led to faster speed estimates
  • Participants recalled broken glass that wasn't present
• Why is reconstructive memory considered a strength compared to other theories?

  It explains why people misremember information
• How does reconstructive memory help in understanding eyewitness testimonies?

  It explains inaccuracies in recalling events
• What is a limitation of reconstructive memory regarding other memory theories?

  It doesn't consider STM/LTM or encoding
• What did Axelrod argue about schema theory?

  It only explains changes in individuals, not groups
• What is a testability issue with Bartlett's War of the Ghosts study?

  It lacks ecological validity for real-world memories
• What standardization problem did Bartlett's study face?

  It affected the reliability of memory results
• What did Brewer & Treyvens find in their study about memory recall?

  • Participants recalled items from an office
  • Results fit schema theory
  • Unusual items (like a skull) were remembered well
  • Challenges the idea of omission in schemas
• What did Yullie & Cutshall's study suggest about memory reconstruction?

  It occurs less in real-life situations
• What did Wynn and Logie find about memory in natural situations?

  Memories are not added to over time