Study Guide

Memory is the mental processes that enable us to retain and use information over time. The three fundamental processes involved are encoding, storage, and retrieval. Encoding is the process of transforming information into a form that can be entered into and retained by the memory system. Storage is the process of retaining information in memory so that it can be used at a later time. Retrieval is the process of recovering information stored in memory so that we are consciously aware of it.

The stage model is based on the idea that information is transferred from one memory stage to another. Sensory memory, to short-term memory, then to long-term memory.

The tendency to remember items at the beginning and end of a list better than items in the middle.

The environmental cues in a particular context can become encoded as part of the unique memories you form while in that context. These same environmental cues can act as retrieval cues to help you access the memories formed in that context. Same goes for mood congruence, when you’re happy, you tend to remember happy memories. When you’re sad you remember unpleasant losses etc.., .

1st repeatedly imagining an event makes the event seem increasingly familiar. People misinterpret the sense of familiarity as an indication that the event really happened. 2nd coupled with the sense of increased familiarity, people experience source confusion. That is, subtle confusion can occur as to whether a retrieved “memory” has a real event or an imagined event as its source. Over time people may come misattribute their memory of imagining the pseudoevent as being a memory of the actual occurrence of the event. 3rd the more vivid and detailed the imaginative experience, the more likely it is that people will confuse the imagined event with a real occurrence. Vivid sensory aand perceptual details can make the imagined events “feel” more like “real” events.

Several factors that contribute to forgetting are encoding failure, decay, interference, and motivated forgetting. Encoding failure is the inability to recall specific information because of insufficient encoding of the information for storage in long-term memory.

Retrograde amnesia-loss of memory, especially for episodic information; backward-acting amnesia. Retrograde means “backward moving” people who have retrograde amnesia are unable to remember some or all of their past, especially episodic memories for recent events. Usually results due to a head injury.Anterograde amnesia- loss of memory caused by the inability to store new memories; forward-acting amnesia. Anterograde means “forward moving”.

Cognition- the mental activities involved in acquiring, retaining, and using knowledge.Thinking- the manipulation of mental representations of information in order to draw interferences and conclusions.

Trial and error- a problem solving strategy that involves attempting different solutions and eliminating those that do not work. Algorithm- a problem solving strategy that involves following a specific rule, procedure, or method that inevitably produces the correct solution. Heuristic- a problem solving strategy that involves following a general rule of thumb to reduce the number of possible solutions. Insight- the sudden realization of how a problem can be resolved. & Intuition- coming to a conclusion or making a judgment without conscious awareness of the thought processes involved.

Single-featured model, to simplify a choice among many alternatives, you base your decision on a single feature.Additive model, generate a list of factors most important to you, then. Rate each alternative on each factor using arbitrary an scale, such as -5 to +5. The factor with the strongest appeal goes up, & vice versa. Finally, you add up the ratings for each alternative.Elimination by Aspects model, evaluate all the alternatives one characteristic at a time, typically starting with the feature you consider most important.

Language-a system for combining arbitrary symbols to produce an infinite number of meaningful statements.