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The Seven Sins of Memory

The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers is a book by Daniel Schacter, former chair of Harvard University's Psychology Department and a leading memory researcher.

The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers
AuthorDaniel L. Schacter
Published2001
PublisherHoughton Mifflin
ISBN0618040196

The book revolves around the theory that "the seven sins of memory" are similar to the seven deadly sins, and that if one tries to avoid committing these sins, it will help to improve one's ability to remember. Schacter argues that these features of human memory are not necessarily bad, and that they serve a useful purpose in memory. For instance, persistence is one of the sins of memory that can lead to things like post traumatic stress syndrome. However persistence is also necessary for long-term memory, and so it is essential.

Overview Edit

Schacter asserts that "memory's malfunctions can be divided into seven fundamental transgressions or 'sins'."[1] These are transience, absent-mindedness, blocking, misattribution, suggestibility, bias, and persistence. The first three are described as sins of omission, since the result is a failure to recall an idea, fact, or event. The other four sins (misattribution, suggestibility, bias, and persistence) are sins of commission, meaning that there is a form of memory present, but it is not of the desired fidelity or the desired fact, event, or ideas.

Types of memory failure Edit

Transience Edit

Transience means the influence from one memory on another one. Failures are due to the general deterioration of a specific memory over time and are enhanced by interference of memories. There are two types of interference: proactive interference (old memory inhibits the ability to remember new memories properly), and retroactive interference (new memories inhibit the ability to remember old memories accurately). Typically, more information can be remembered of recent events than older events. This is especially true with episodic memory as compared to semantic memory, as "richly detailed evocative memories from the past" contain more multidimensional information than "general conceptual knowledge divested of a specific spatiotemporal context".[2] Since memories of experiences contain multifaceted information—including sensory, spatial, and temporal details—, there are more areas inside an episodic memory susceptible to interference.[citation needed]

One of Schacter's examples [3] of transience is a study[4] of how well undergraduates remembered how they found out about the O. J. Simpson trial verdict immediately after, 15 months, and 32 months later. After three years, fewer than 30 percent remembered accurately, and nearly half had major errors.

Absent-mindedness Edit

This form of memory failure involves a problem at the point where attention and memory interface. Common errors of this type include misplacing keys or eyeglasses, or forgetting appointments. The reason is that at the time of encoding sufficient attention was not paid to the fact that place or time etc. would later need to be recalled. Absentmindedness means here that the person's attention is focussed on something different, and therefor misses part of the encoding.

Blocking Edit

Blocking is when the brain tries to retrieve or encode information, but another memory interferes with it. Blocking is a primary cause of Tip of the tongue phenomenon (a temporary inaccessibility of stored information).

Misattribution Edit

Misattribution entails correct recollection of information with incorrect recollection of the source of that information. For example, a person who witnesses a murder after watching a television program may incorrectly blame the murder on someone he or she saw on the television program. This error has profound consequences in legal systems because of its unacknowledged prevalence and the confidence which is often placed in the person's ability to impart correctly information critical to suspect identification.

One example Schacter gives[5] of eyewitness misattribution occurred in connection with the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Two days before, the bomber rented a van, but an employee there reported seeing two men renting it together. One description fit the actual bomber, but the other description was soon determined to be of one of a pair of men who also rented a van the next day, and were unconnected with bombing.

Schacter also describes how to create misattribution errors using the DRM procedure. Subjects are read a list of words like sharp, pin, sewing, and so on, but not the word needle. Later subjects are given a second list of words including the word needle, and are asked to pick out which words were on the first list. Most of the time, subjects confidently assert that needle was on the first list.[6]

Suggestibility Edit

Suggestibility is somewhat similar to misattribution, but with the inclusion of overt suggestion. It is the acceptance of a false suggestion made by others. Memories of the past are often influenced by the manner in which they are recalled, and when subtle emphasis is placed on certain aspects which might seem likely to a specific type of memory, those emphasized aspects are sometimes incorporated into the recollection, whether or not they occurred. For example, a person sees a crime being committed by a redheaded man. Subsequently, after reading in the newspaper that the crime was committed by a brown-haired man, the witness "remembers" a brown-haired man instead of a redheaded man.

Loftus and Palmer's work into leading questions is an example of such suggestibility.

Bias Edit

The sin of bias is similar to the sin of suggestibility in that one's current feelings and worldview distort remembrance of past events. This can pertain to specific incidences[spelling?] and the general conception one has of a certain period in one's life. Memories encoded with a certain amount of stimulation and emotion are more easily recalled. Thus, a contented adult might look back with fondness on his or her childhood, induced to do so by positive memories from that time, which might not be representative of his/her average mood during his/her childhood.

Persistence Edit

This failure of the memory system involves the unwanted recall of information that is disturbing. The remembrance can range from a blunder on the job to a truly traumatic experience, and the persistent recall can lead to formation of phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even suicide in particularly disturbing or intrusive instances.

References Edit

  1. ^ D. Schacter. The Seven Sins of Memory, Houghton Mifflin, 2001. p.4
  2. ^ Irish, Muireann; Piguet, Olivier (2013). "The Pivotal Role of Semantic Memory in Remembering the Past and Imagining the Future". Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. 7: 27. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00027. ISSN 1662-5153. PMC 3615221. PMID 23565081.
  3. ^ Schacter, Daniel L. (2001). The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers (Kindle ed.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 11. ISBN 9780618040193.
  4. ^ Schmolk, H; Buffalo, E. A.; Squire, L. R. (2000). "Memory distortions develop over time: Recollections of the O. J. Simpson trial verdict after 15 and 32 months". Psychological Science. 11 (1): 39–45. doi:10.1111/1467-9280.00212. PMID 11228841. S2CID 6918395.
  5. ^ Schacter, Daniel L. The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 91.
  6. ^ Schacter, Daniel L. The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 98.

External links Edit

  • Description of the book at the APA website
  • On the Seven Sins of Memory with Professor Daniel Schacter 'Bridging the Gaps: A Portal for Curious Minds'

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to remove this template message The Seven Sins of Memory How the Mind Forgets and Remembers is a book by Daniel Schacter former chair of Harvard University s Psychology Department and a leading memory researcher The Seven Sins of Memory How the Mind Forgets and RemembersAuthorDaniel L SchacterPublished2001PublisherHoughton MifflinISBN0618040196The book revolves around the theory that the seven sins of memory are similar to the seven deadly sins and that if one tries to avoid committing these sins it will help to improve one s ability to remember Schacter argues that these features of human memory are not necessarily bad and that they serve a useful purpose in memory For instance persistence is one of the sins of memory that can lead to things like post traumatic stress syndrome However persistence is also necessary for long term memory and so it is essential Contents 1 Overview 2 Types of memory failure 2 1 Transience 2 2 Absent mindedness 2 3 Blocking 2 4 Misattribution 2 5 Suggestibility 2 6 Bias 2 7 Persistence 3 References 4 External linksOverview EditSchacter asserts that memory s malfunctions can be divided into seven fundamental transgressions or sins 1 These are transience absent mindedness blocking misattribution suggestibility bias and persistence The first three are described as sins of omission since the result is a failure to recall an idea fact or event The other four sins misattribution suggestibility bias and persistence are sins of commission meaning that there is a form of memory present but it is not of the desired fidelity or the desired fact event or ideas Types of memory failure EditTransience Edit Transience means the influence from one memory on another one Failures are due to the general deterioration of a specific memory over time and are enhanced by interference of memories There are two types of interference proactive interference old memory inhibits the ability to remember new memories properly and retroactive interference new memories inhibit the ability to remember old memories accurately Typically more information can be remembered of recent events than older events This is especially true with episodic memory as compared to semantic memory as richly detailed evocative memories from the past contain more multidimensional information than general conceptual knowledge divested of a specific spatiotemporal context 2 Since memories of experiences contain multifaceted information including sensory spatial and temporal details there are more areas inside an episodic memory susceptible to interference citation needed One of Schacter s examples 3 of transience is a study 4 of how well undergraduates remembered how they found out about the O J Simpson trial verdict immediately after 15 months and 32 months later After three years fewer than 30 percent remembered accurately and nearly half had major errors Absent mindedness Edit Further information Absent mindedness This form of memory failure involves a problem at the point where attention and memory interface Common errors of this type include misplacing keys or eyeglasses or forgetting appointments The reason is that at the time of encoding sufficient attention was not paid to the fact that place or time etc would later need to be recalled Absentmindedness means here that the person s attention is focussed on something different and therefor misses part of the encoding Blocking Edit Blocking is when the brain tries to retrieve or encode information but another memory interferes with it Blocking is a primary cause of Tip of the tongue phenomenon a temporary inaccessibility of stored information Misattribution Edit Further information Misattribution of memory Misattribution entails correct recollection of information with incorrect recollection of the source of that information For example a person who witnesses a murder after watching a television program may incorrectly blame the murder on someone he or she saw on the television program This error has profound consequences in legal systems because of its unacknowledged prevalence and the confidence which is often placed in the person s ability to impart correctly information critical to suspect identification One example Schacter gives 5 of eyewitness misattribution occurred in connection with the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 Two days before the bomber rented a van but an employee there reported seeing two men renting it together One description fit the actual bomber but the other description was soon determined to be of one of a pair of men who also rented a van the next day and were unconnected with bombing Schacter also describes how to create misattribution errors using the DRM procedure Subjects are read a list of words like sharp pin sewing and so on but not the word needle Later subjects are given a second list of words including the word needle and are asked to pick out which words were on the first list Most of the time subjects confidently assert that needle was on the first list 6 Suggestibility Edit Suggestibility is somewhat similar to misattribution but with the inclusion of overt suggestion It is the acceptance of a false suggestion made by others Memories of the past are often influenced by the manner in which they are recalled and when subtle emphasis is placed on certain aspects which might seem likely to a specific type of memory those emphasized aspects are sometimes incorporated into the recollection whether or not they occurred For example a person sees a crime being committed by a redheaded man Subsequently after reading in the newspaper that the crime was committed by a brown haired man the witness remembers a brown haired man instead of a redheaded man Loftus and Palmer s work into leading questions is an example of such suggestibility Bias Edit The sin of bias is similar to the sin of suggestibility in that one s current feelings and worldview distort remembrance of past events This can pertain to specific incidences spelling and the general conception one has of a certain period in one s life Memories encoded with a certain amount of stimulation and emotion are more easily recalled Thus a contented adult might look back with fondness on his or her childhood induced to do so by positive memories from that time which might not be representative of his her average mood during his her childhood Persistence Edit This failure of the memory system involves the unwanted recall of information that is disturbing The remembrance can range from a blunder on the job to a truly traumatic experience and the persistent recall can lead to formation of phobias post traumatic stress disorder and even suicide in particularly disturbing or intrusive instances References Edit D Schacter The Seven Sins of Memory Houghton Mifflin 2001 p 4 Irish Muireann Piguet Olivier 2013 The Pivotal Role of Semantic Memory in Remembering the Past and Imagining the Future Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 7 27 doi 10 3389 fnbeh 2013 00027 ISSN 1662 5153 PMC 3615221 PMID 23565081 Schacter Daniel L 2001 The Seven Sins of Memory How the Mind Forgets and Remembers Kindle ed Houghton Mifflin Harcourt p 11 ISBN 9780618040193 Schmolk H Buffalo E A Squire L R 2000 Memory distortions develop over time Recollections of the O J Simpson trial verdict after 15 and 32 months Psychological Science 11 1 39 45 doi 10 1111 1467 9280 00212 PMID 11228841 S2CID 6918395 Schacter Daniel L The Seven Sins of Memory How the Mind Forgets and Remembers Houghton Mifflin Harcourt p 91 Schacter Daniel L The Seven Sins of Memory How the Mind Forgets and Remembers Houghton Mifflin Harcourt p 98 External links EditDescription of the book at the APA website On the Seven Sins of Memory with Professor Daniel Schacter Bridging the Gaps A Portal for Curious Minds Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Seven Sins of Memory amp oldid 1166940865, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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