Reconstructive memory

Question 1

What does “reconstructive memory” refer to?

Answer 1

The process by which the brain actively reconstructs memories using schemas.

not storing exact copies but influenced versions.

Question 2

Why is reconstructive memory important in psychology?

Answer 2

It highlights the fallibility of memory in EWT, where memory distortion can impact legal outcomes.

Question 2

How does schema theory relate to reconstructive memory?

Answer 2

Schemas guide the encoding and retrieval of memories, distorting details based on prior knowledge.

Question 3

What are the key critiques of reconstructive memory theory?

Answer 3

Some real-life events are remembered with high accuracy, and emotional events are less susceptible to distortion.

Overemphasizes the unreliability of memory

Question 4

Bartlett (1932)’s “War of the Ghosts” study strengths

Answer 4

Introduced schema theory; showed cultural influence on memory.

Question 5

Bartlett (1932)’s “War of the Ghosts” study limitations

Answer 5

Lack of experimental control, subjective interpretation of data and western population

Question 6

What was the key finding of Anderson and Pichert (1978) regarding schema processing?

Answer 6

Participants recalled different details of a story depending on whether they were primed with a burglar or homebuyer schema, showing that schemas guide both encoding and retrieval.

Question 7

Define “confabulation” in the context of memory.

Answer 7

A memory error where fabricated or distorted information is believed to be true, often due to brain damage or memory gaps.

Question 8

What did Attali et al. (2009) discover about Alzheimer’s patients and fairy tales?

Answer 8

Patients confabulated more when fairy tales were altered, suggesting poor encoding and schema-driven filling of memory gaps.

Question 9

Evaluate Anderson and Pichert (1978) strengths.

Answer 9

Strengths: Controlled experiment; supports schema theory and its effect on recall.


Question 10

What did Loftus and Palmer (1974) demonstrate about reconstructive memory?

Answer 10

Changing one word in a question influenced participants’ memory of the car crash and even led to false memories of broken glass.

Question 10

What was the aim of Loftus and Palmer (1974)?

Answer 10

To test their hypothesis that the language used in eyewitness testimony can alter memory.

Question 10

Evaluate Anderson and Pichert (1978) limitations

Answer 10

Limitations: Artificial task; generalizability to real-world memory may be limited.

Question 11

Evaluate Loftus and Palmer (1974) strengths

Answer 11

Demonstrated causal influence of language on memory; strong internal validity.

Question 12

Evaluate Loftus and Palmer’s (1974) limitations

Answer 12

Low ecological validity (video clips instead of real accidents); demand characteristics; student sample limits generalizability.

Question 13

What did Loftus & Pickrell (1995) show in the “Lost in the Mall” study?

Answer 13

Plausible that false memories can be implanted, and participants may believe in them even with low clarity.

Question 14

Evaluate Loftus & Pickrell (1995) strengths

Answer 14

Real-world application for understanding false memories in legal settings.

Question 15

Evaluate Loftus & Pickrell (1995) limitations

Answer 15

Limitations: Ethical concerns (deception); only 25% formed false memories, showing individual variability.

Question 16

How does Yuille and Cutshall (1986) challenge reconstructive memory theory?

Answer 16

Despite misleading questions, real witnesses of a crime gave accurate accounts even after 4-5 months, suggesting real-life memory can be reliable.

Question 16

Evaluate Yuille and Cutshall (1986) strengths

Answer 16

High ecological validity; use of real witnesses and event.

Question 17

Evaluate Yuille and Cutshall (1986) limitations

Answer 17

Case study with small sample; limited generalizability; participant bias possible (witnesses knew it was for research).

Question 18

What is confabulation, and how does it relate to reconstructive memory?

Answer 18

Confabulation is the filling in of memory gaps with fabricated or distorted information, often due to brain damage or memory impairment, showing extreme cases of reconstruction.

Question 19

What did Attali et al. (2009) find about confabulation in Alzheimer’s patients?

Answer 19

Patients confabulated more with altered fairy tales, showing reliance on existing schemas and poor memory encoding.

Question 20

Evaluate Attali et al. (2009) stengths.

Answer 20

Reveals how reconstructive processes affect clinical populations.

Question 21

Limitations of Attali et al. (2009).

Answer 21

Low generalizability; findings specific to Alzheimer's disease; not representative of healthy memory.

Question 22

What was the method of Bartlett (1932)?

Answer 22

British participants read a Native American folk story, then recalled it several times over days/weeks. The story was unfamiliar and lacked cultural relevance. Their retellings were analyzed for changes and distortions.

Question 22

What was the aim of Bartlett (1932) “War of the Ghosts” study?

Answer 22

To investigate how memory is influenced by previous knowledge (schemas) | And whether memory is reconstructive in nature

Question 23

What was the aim of Anderson & Pichert (1978)?

Answer 23

To determine if schema processing influences both encoding and retrieval of memory.

Question 24

What was the method of Anderson & Pichert (1978)?

Answer 24

Participants read a story from the perspective of either a burglar or a homebuyer. They recalled the story, then were given the other schema and recalled it again. Differences in recalled details were measured.

Question 25

What was the aim of Loftus & Palmer (1974)?

Answer 25

To test whether the wording of questions could influence eyewitness memory of a car accident.

Question 26

What was the method of Loftus & Palmer (1974)?

Answer 26

45 participants watched video clips of traffic accidents. They answered questions, including one about car speed using different verbs (e.g., “smashed” vs. “hit”). A second experiment asked if they saw broken glass (there was none).

Question 27

What was the aim of Loftus & Pickrell (1995) – Lost in the Mall?

Answer 27

To investigate whether false memories of events can be implanted through suggestion.

Question 28

What was the aim of Yuille & Cutshall (1986)?

Answer 28

To investigate the accuracy of eyewitness memory after a real crime, and test the effects of misleading questions over time

Question 28

What was the method of Loftus & Pickrell (1995)?

Answer 28

24 participants received a booklet with 3 true childhood events and 1 fabricated “lost in mall” event. They were later asked to recall details about each. The false memory was based on plausible details provided by family.

Question 29

What was the method of Yuille & Cutshall (1986)?

Answer 29

Thirteen witnesses of a Vancouver shooting were interviewed 4–5 months after the crime. They gave free recall and answered two misleading questions. Their accounts were compared to original police interviews.

Question 30

What was the aim of Attali et al. (2009)?

Answer 30

To examine confabulation in Alzheimer’s patients when recalling original vs. altered fairy tales.

Question 31

What is EWT?

Answer 31

Refers to an account given by people of an event which they witnessed and its often used for criminal evidence depending entirely on the recall of the events on the witness.