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Cognitive Psychology: Memory in Everyday Life

This document discusses several topics related to cognitive psychology and memory. It first discusses eyewitness testimony and factors that can affect its accuracy, such as anxiety, age of the witness, and misleading information. It then discusses the cognitive interview technique used to improve memory recall. Finally, it discusses how memory is reconstructive in nature and can be influenced by schemas, expectations, and prior knowledge, sometimes leading to inaccurate memories.

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Jack Noké
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37 views28 pages

Cognitive Psychology: Memory in Everyday Life

This document discusses several topics related to cognitive psychology and memory. It first discusses eyewitness testimony and factors that can affect its accuracy, such as anxiety, age of the witness, and misleading information. It then discusses the cognitive interview technique used to improve memory recall. Finally, it discusses how memory is reconstructive in nature and can be influenced by schemas, expectations, and prior knowledge, sometimes leading to inaccurate memories.

Uploaded by

Jack Noké
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cognitive Psychology

Memory in everyday life

Memory in everyday life


Eyewitness testimony (EWT) and factors affecting the accuracy of EWT, including anxiety, age of witness. Misleading information and the use of the cognitive interview. Strategies for memory improvement

Neisser suggested psychologists were far too interested in formulating theories and models of memory, but were not focusing on the practical applications of memory, such as Eye Witness Testimony What do you think.? Do you think that our memories are always accurate? If not, why do you think our memories are inaccurate?

Reconstructive Memory
Bartlett (1932) suggested that memories can be inaccurate because they are actively constructed and are influenced by our own interpretations

You will be shown an image for a short period of time. You need to draw the image when it disappears

DRAW it now !!!

Actual Roman Numerals 1 2 3 4 5 =I = II = III = IV =V


What do you notice?

Schema
Schema are They are scripts of typical expectations for a given situation, person, event.

Experiment!
Using a piece of scrap paper You will be shown a picture for 10 seconds Answer the questions that follow using your scrap paper

Experiment
Write down what objects were in the bathroom Excluding the:
bath sink shower unit light switch

Objects Compatible With Bathroom Schema:

Towel/bath mat
Liquid soap

Shower gel
Aerosol spray

Bin
Scales

Objects NOT Compatible With Bathroom Schema:

Cycle helmet
Teddy bear

Black bag
Foot spa

Pen

Schema
Schema are They may distort our memories because we use our knowledge about what SHOULD rather than what was ACTUALLY there

Cohen (1993)
Ignore aspects which dont fit into the activated schema Only need to store central features not exact features Make sense by filling in the missing info Distort memories to fit in with expectations Use Schema to make a best guess

Brewer & Treyens


(1981)
30 Ps waited in room alone, for 35 seconds
Room contained 61 items

Brewer & Treyens


(1981)
Ps more likely to recall office compatible items such as: Typewriter
Desk Calendar

Brewer & Treyens


(1981)
Ps less likely to recall office incompatible items such as: Brick
Pair of pliers

Brewer & Treyens


(1981)
However, many Ps recalled the very bizarre item: Skull!

Brewer & Treyens


(1981)
Ps also made substitution errors: Incorrectly recalling books, pens, a telephone These objects have high schema expectancy

Research into Schema and Reconstructed Memory


Allport & Postman (1947) Showed Ps a picture of two men engaged in an argument. The better dressed man is black, and there is a scruffy white man holding a cutthroat razor in his hand.

Research into Reconstructed Memory


Allport & Postman (1947) Participants would often recall the black man as having held the knife.

Why?
Because in 1947 in US there were strong racial prejudices against Black Americans. It was therefore assumed (reconstructed) that the white man would be the victim and the black man the perpetrator.

Memory in everyday life


Eyewitness testimony (EWT) Factors affecting the accuracy of EWT Anxiety

Video clip 1 (9:20 12:10)


1. What was the name of the newspaper seen in the clip? 2. What is the name of the female bartender? 3. How old is she? 4. How many people were playing the quiz machine? 5. How many youths were wearing hoodies at the start of the clip? 6. Did you see the dog in the pub? 7. What drink did officer Angel order?

Video clip 2 (1:37 1:41)


1. How many policemen were wearing helmets? 2. What time was shown on the CCTV camera? 3. What was Trolley boys real name? 4. Over which eye did he have a plaster? 5. Where did this scene take place? 6. What did the female police officer use to hit the other woman? 7. What items were thrown at the policemen out of baskets at the end of the clip?

Video clip 1 (9:20 12:10)


1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What was the name of the newspaper seen in the clip? Sandford citizen What is the name of the female bartender? Mary How old is she? 53 How many people were playing the quiz machine? None - there wasnt one there! (misleading question) How many youths were wearing hoodies at the start of the clip? 6 Did you see the dog in the pub? There wasnt one (misleading question) What drink did officer Angel order? Cranberry juice

6.
7.

Video clip 2 (1:37 1:41)


1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. How many policemen were wearing helmets? 4 What time was shown on the CCTV camera? 10:50 What was Trolley boys real name? Michael Over which eye did he have a plaster? right Where did this scene take place? Somerfield What did the female police officer use to hit the other woman? Slippery surface sign What items were thrown at the policemen out of baskets at the end of the clip? Fruit

Research into EWT


UNRELIABLE Stress Weapon Focus Characteristics of the Witness (Mis)leading Questions RELIABLE Consequences Real Events Blatantly incorrect info Cognitive interview

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