Reconstructive memory & schema theory

• Memory should not be divided up into its constituent parts and treated as independent from other

  functioning (Reductionist). It should be studied in a way to capture the relationship between memory

  and other cognitive processes (Holistic)
• Memory is not just an act of reproduction – they are reconstructions each time they are recalled
• Memory is an active process: we store fragments of information which are put together at recall
• Reconstructive memory is a theory of elaborate memory recall, in which the act of remembering is

  influenced by various other cognitive processes
• This means that a memory is not an exact copy of the experience, it is often altered – elements go

  missing or become distorted
• Bartlett war of ghosts (1932)

  Aim: To investigate how the memory of a story is affected by previous knowledge

  Chose the folk tale because it was culturally unfamiliar, lacked any rational story order, the dramatic

  nature would encourage visual imaging, the conclusion was supernatural

  20 British participants
• Bartlett’s condition A: heard the story and were asked to reproduce it after a short time and again repeatedly over

  days, weeks, months and years (longest time lapse to recall the story was 6 years). (Repeated

  reproduction)
• Bartletts condition B: heard the story and were asked to reproduce it, this was shown to another person who was

  asked to reproduce it, this chain was repeated several times. (Serial reproduction)
• Bartletts Findings:

  The story was transformed over time

  Unfamiliar details were left out, new information was added in and phrases were altered to match the

  participants own culture

  No significant differences between groups – participants in both groups changed the story to become

  more consistent with their own beliefs and cultural expectations (schema)

  Three patterns of distortion took place: Rationalisation, confabulation and levelling
• Conclusion:

  Memory is reconstructed each time it is recalled

  It is rarely accurate and prone to distortion, rationalisation, transformation and simplification

  The participants reconstructions were not random – they made the story more conventional, coherent and

  meaningful to the participant

  The process of remembering is constructive in nature and influenced by inferences made by an individual
• Schema: a mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive

  processing.
• Schema theory: When we encounter new knowledge/experiences the relevant schema is activated.

  We assume the situation matches the knowledge already contained in the schema.

  Allowing us to process new information efficiently, but making some guesses about what the

  situation is probably like.