Structure and process theory of reconstructive memory

• Schemas

  Mental representations of an object or situation based on prior experiences
• Schemas

  • We feel, see and hear frequently giving us a mental picture of what they are
  • Our memory is not like a computer, it is far from an accurate reconstruction of our experiences
  • We do not just recall schemas in chronological order but we are flexible and access what is most relevant at that moment from our memory
  • We can reconstruct our schemas based on new information that we see, hear or feel
• Bartlett (1932) theorised that people reconstruct their memories based on prior experiences called schemas
• Our memory


  Is not like a computer, it is far from an accurate reconstruction of our experiences
• We do not just recall schemas in chronological order but we are flexible and access what is most relevant at that moment from our memory
• We can reconstruct our schemas based on new information that we see, hear or feel
• The war of the Ghost: tested his theory by giving participants a story to remember. A North American folk tale and some of the words and the style of the story were unfamiliar to the participants who were British. When participants recalled the story it was lacking in detail compared to the original and words that were culturally unfamiliar tended to be left out. “Hunting for seals” was changed to “fishing” which would have been more consistent with their existing schemas. 
• The role of experience and expectations on memory: our perceptions and memories are shaped by prior experiences, thus our memory of events may not be accurate. We might sometimes be recalling two different events that our memory reconstructs as one event (going on two holidays to Disney World and getting the park you did first on the first trip mixed up with your second trip).
• Our schemas are designed to help us quickly interpret huge amounts of sensory information.
• Our expectations may not always be correct but without them we would not be able to respond quickly.mory of events
• Confabulation: making things up. It is not lying as it is not done to deceive people nor do they believe that what they are saying is incorrect. People confabulate details and aspects of memories according to Bartlett to fill in the gaps in their schemas.
• Distortion


  A memory that differs from the event which took place
• Loftus and Palmer (1974) study


  • Showed participants clips of car crashes
  • Asked them "how fast the cars were going when they…" using different verbs (contacted and smashed)
  • Participants who received the word "smashed" estimated the speed of the cars as significantly higher than those who had received the verb "contacted"
• Using leading questions when interviewing eyewitnesses

  Could influence their testimonies
• This research is important for the police when dealing with eyewitnesses