Cognitive Psychology: Memory and Emotion

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Questions and Answers

What does Schema Theory suggest about mental frameworks?

They are fixed and do not change with new experiences.

They help individuals process and interpret information. (correct)

They consist only of emotions and not past knowledge.

They have no impact on decision-making.

What is a key characteristic of Reconstructive Memory?

Past knowledge and biases can distort memory recall. (correct)

Memory is always accurately recalled without errors.

Memories are stored unchanged in the brain.

External information has no effect on memory recall.

How does emotional arousal affect memory?

It impairs memory for non-emotional events.

It has no effect on memory.

It enhances recall but may distort memories. (correct)

It focuses memory solely on negative events.

What does the Multi-Store Model of memory propose?

It includes sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor influences thinking and decision-making according to cognitive psychology?

Past experiences and biases. Signup and view all the answers

What role do biases play in thinking and decision-making?

They cause systematic deviations from rationality. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the Working Memory Model?

It describes the active manipulation of short-term information. Signup and view all the answers

How do emotions typically influence decision-making?

They can lead to decisions that diverge from logic. Signup and view all the answers

What concept explains the way participants in Bartlett's study altered unfamiliar details to fit their cultural understanding?

Schema Theory Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary finding of Loftus and Palmer's car crash experiment regarding memory recall?

Verbs used in questions can influence recall. Signup and view all the answers

What does Miller’s Magic Number suggest about short-term memory capacity?

It is limited to 7±2 items. Signup and view all the answers

Which bias is illustrated in the example provided about judging risks based on easily recalled examples?

Availability Bias Signup and view all the answers

What does reconstructive memory indicate about how memories are formed?

Memories can be influenced by new information and external factors. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does schema theory have on the reliability of cognitive processes?

It makes cognitive processes more unreliable due to distortion. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the term 'chunking' in relation to memory?

It allows for the grouping of items to enhance memory recall. Signup and view all the answers

How does Loftus and Palmer's study relate to decision making?

It demonstrates the role of language and context in influencing judgment. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Schema Theory

Suggests that mental frameworks (schemas) based on past experiences and knowledge help individuals process and interpret information.
Schemas influence perception, memory, and decision-making.
Example: People may misremember details of a story or event.

Reconstructive Memory

Memory is not a perfect playback but an active reconstruction that's influenced by prior knowledge, biases, and external information.
Example: Post-event information, like leading questions, can distort memories.

Reliability of Cognitive Processes

Examines whether cognitive functions (like memory, perception, and thinking) produce accurate and consistent results.
Research shows that cognitive processes can be prone to errors.
Example: False memories and biases reduce the reliability of memory recall.

Emotion and Memory

Emotional arousal enhances memory for events, but can lead to distorted memories.
Example: Flashbulb memories (vivid recollections of emotionally charged events).

Emotion and Decision Making

Emotions significantly influence judgments and choices, often leading to decisions that deviate from purely logical reasoning.
Example: Fear leads to risk aversion; happiness increases optimism.

Multi-Store Model

Proposes three separate memory stores: sensory memory (brief), short-term memory (limited capacity), and long-term memory (permanent storage).
Example: Information must be rehearsed in short-term memory to move to long-term memory.

Working Memory Model

Focuses on short-term memory, describing its active processing and manipulation of information using components like phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and central executive.
Example: Remembering a phone number while looking for a pen involves working memory.

Thinking and Decision Making

Cognitive processes used to evaluate information, solve problems, and make choices.
Influenced by biases, heuristics, and external factors.
Example: Heuristics (mental shortcuts) can lead to quicker decisions but may result in errors.

Biases in Thinking and Decision Making

Systematic deviations from rationality caused by cognitive shortcuts, emotions, or past experiences.
Common biases include anchoring bias, availability bias, and confirmation bias.
Example: Judging risks based on how easily examples come to mind (availability bias).

Bartlett (1932) – The War of the Ghosts

Participants recalled a Native American folk story, distorting unfamiliar details to fit their cultural schemas.
Demonstrates how schemas shape memory recall.
Highlights that memory is reconstructive and prone to errors.

Loftus and Palmer (1974) – Car Crash Experiment

Participants viewed car accident videos and were asked about speed with different verbs (e.g., "smashed" vs. "contacted").
Suggests that external factors (like leading questions) influence memory reconstruction.
Demonstrates memory's malleability and unreliability.

Miller’s Magic Number 7 (1956)

Discovered that short-term memory has a limited capacity (7±2 items).
Demonstrates that people can chunk information into meaningful units to overcome this limit.

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts in cognitive psychology, focusing on schema theory, reconstructive memory, and the reliability of cognitive processes. It also examines the relationship between emotion and memory, particularly how emotional experiences can enhance or distort recollections. Test your understanding of these fascinating topics!