Special Topics in Special Topics in MemoryMemory

Psychology, Unit 5Psychology, Unit 5

Today’s ObjectivesToday’s Objectives1.1. Apply autobiographical memory Apply autobiographical memory

to your lifeto your life2.2. Describe the explanations for Describe the explanations for

childhood amnesiachildhood amnesia3.3. Name the 2 types of Name the 2 types of

extraordinary memoryextraordinary memory4.4. Apply flashbulb memory to your Apply flashbulb memory to your

lifelife5.5. Explain the inaccuracies of Explain the inaccuracies of

eyewitness testimonyeyewitness testimony6.6. Know the problems with Know the problems with

recovered memoryrecovered memory

Autobiographical MemoryAutobiographical MemoryMemory of events and when Memory of events and when

they took place (episodic)they took place (episodic)These memories are what These memories are what

make us humanmake us humanWe have few memories before We have few memories before

age 3-4age 3-4Most humans report the most Most humans report the most

important of these occur 18-35important of these occur 18-35

Childhood AmnesiaChildhood AmnesiaForgetting experiences that Forgetting experiences that

occur before age 2occur before age 2b/c: 1. our brains aren’t fully b/c: 1. our brains aren’t fully formed 2. we have no sense formed 2. we have no sense of self, so we can’t categorize of self, so we can’t categorize the memories 3. lack of the memories 3. lack of language skills prevent language skills prevent “practice” of memory “practice” of memory

Extraordinary MemoryExtraordinary MemoryEidetic imagery: ability to Eidetic imagery: ability to

reproduce unusually sharp reproduce unusually sharp and detailed imagesand detailed images1:25 people have eidetic 1:25 people have eidetic imageryimagery

Mnemonists: people who Mnemonists: people who have developed keen, long have developed keen, long lasting memorylasting memory

Flashbulb MemoriesFlashbulb MemoriesA vivid memory of a certain A vivid memory of a certain

event and the incidents event and the incidents surrounding it even after a long surrounding it even after a long time has passed (ex: where were time has passed (ex: where were you when you heard about 9/11)you when you heard about 9/11)

Now Print Theory: shocking news Now Print Theory: shocking news caused extra attention to detail caused extra attention to detail and records a whole “print” of all and records a whole “print” of all details surrounding the eventdetails surrounding the event

Eyewitness TestimonyEyewitness TestimonyNotoriously wrong!Notoriously wrong!b/c: 1. reconstructive theory 2. b/c: 1. reconstructive theory 2.

perceived positive feedback in perceived positive feedback in lineup 3. ulterior motive 4. lineup 3. ulterior motive 4. schemaschema

1000s of people are found 1000s of people are found innocent after convictions innocent after convictions based on eyewitness testimonybased on eyewitness testimony

Post Event Memory EffectsPost Event Memory EffectsLoftus & Palmer’s (1974) car-crash

experimentExperiment 1 – Participants saw a film of Experiment 1 – Participants saw a film of

a car accident. They were given a a car accident. They were given a questionnaire of the accident and asked questionnaire of the accident and asked to estimate the speed of the cars to estimate the speed of the cars involved in the accident. involved in the accident. “How fast were “How fast were the cars going when they (verb) each the cars going when they (verb) each other?”other?” A different “verb” was used.A different “verb” was used.

Participants were only shown the film of Participants were only shown the film of the car accident once during the study.the car accident once during the study.

Loftus & Palmer’s (1974) car-Loftus & Palmer’s (1974) car-crash experiment 1 resultscrash experiment 1 results

VERB Estimate of

Speed (Mph)

Smashed 40.8

Collided 39.3

Bumped 38.1

Hit 34

Contacted 31.8

30

32

34

36

38

40

42

Smashed Collided Bumped Hit Contacted

Verb Used in Question

Est

imat

ed S

peed

(m

ph)

•Loftus & Palmer’s (1974) car-crash experiment

Experiment 2 – Two of the groups, “smashed (40.8 mph)” and “hit (34 mph)” were asked the following question one week later.

Did you see any broken Glass? Smash Hit

Yes 16 7No 34 43

Loftus & Palmer’s (1974) car-Loftus & Palmer’s (1974) car-crash experiment 2crash experiment 2

Recovered MemoriesRecovered Memories

Traumatic memories are often Traumatic memories are often “lost”“lost”

They can be recovered in hypnosis They can be recovered in hypnosis or based on exposure to situational or based on exposure to situational factorsfactors

25% of people will remember 25% of people will remember events they never experiencedevents they never experienced

Memories are real if there is Memories are real if there is corroborative evidence to support corroborative evidence to support the memorythe memory

Exit TicketExit Ticket1.1. Which is an autobiographical Which is an autobiographical

memory: knowing the pledge of memory: knowing the pledge of allegiance or remembering your allegiance or remembering your last birthdaylast birthday

2.2. Describe a flashbulb memory Describe a flashbulb memory you have had.you have had.

3.3. Explain the inaccuracies of Explain the inaccuracies of eyewitness testimony.eyewitness testimony.

4.4. Explain why recovered Explain why recovered memories aren’t allowed in memories aren’t allowed in court cases without court cases without corroboration.corroboration.