reconstructive memory & schemas (barlett)

Question 1

who proposed the theory of reconstructive memory?

Answer 1

• barlett

Question 2

what is meant by a “schema”

Answer 2

units of knowledge which are based on previous experiences, allowing us to make sense of new situations and fill in the gaps

Question 3

what is meant by “input”?

Answer 3

perception of an event

Question 4

what is meant by “processing”?

Answer 4

the interpretation of an event

Question 5

what is “effort after meaning”?

Answer 5

when people try to make sense of a situation based on what they already know by using schemas

Question 6

how does information become distorted?

Answer 6

our schemas reconstruct our memories by filling in gaps when we forget information

Question 7

what is meant by rationalisation?

Answer 7

getting rid of something from a memory to help it make sense to us by using our schemas

Question 8

what is meant by confabulation?

Answer 8

making something up in our memory help it make sense to us using our schemas

Question 9

describe the war of ghosts study

Answer 9

• barlett tested participants recollection of a native american folk story and found they altered the story, or missed out parts such as the ghosts, suggesting that rationalization and confabulation are used to make sense of something unfamiliar using our schemas

Question 10

what is a weakness of the war and ghosts study?

Answer 10

it is not reflective of everyday memory, as an unfamiliar story was used that participants may not have understood.

Question 11

what is some opposing evidence for barletts reconstructive memory theory?

Answer 11

• treyan and brewer found that when participants had to recall items in office they were sat in, they recalled unusual objects such as a skull which contradicts we use schemas to recall memories.