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Psychology Class 11 & 12 YT

Nature of memory
“Memory is the means by which we draw on our past
experiences in order to use this information in the present”

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Three stages :

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 Encoding : Recorded and registered
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 Storage : Stored and retained
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 Retrieval : Bringing into awareness

Psychology Class 11 & 12 YT

The stage model

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 Control processes - ( selective attention, Maintain
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rehearsal, Chunking and Elaborative Rehersals.)
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Types of long term memory :

 Declarative (facts, names, dates, etc)
- Episodic (biographical details, emotional info) or
- Semantic (general awareness, basic knowledge)
 Procedural (procedures of various tasks)
Psychology Class 11 & 12 YT
Levels of processing
 Processing of any new information relates to the manner in
which it is perceived, analysed and understood, which

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determines, for how long we would be able to retain that.

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 First level: physical or structural features.
 Intermediate level : phonetic sounds attached

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 Deepest level : understands meaning.
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 "This view of memory will help you realise that while you are
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learning a new lesson you must focus on elaborating the

meaning of its content in as much detail as possible and not
depend on rote memorization."

Psychology Class 11 & 12 YT

Memory As A Constructive Process
 It is a constructive process as the information that is stored undergoes
modification according to past knowledge and schemas. (refers to active
organisation of past reactions and experiences)

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 Bartlett pointed that the memorised information is influenced by the

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meaning that is assigned to the stimulus material. It cannot remain in
isolation from other cognitive processes after reaching in the memory

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system.
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 He also presented some experiments in which the reading of stimulus
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materials were followed by fifteen minutes break and the participants had
to recall what they read. They altered the texts to make them more
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consistent with their knowledge and transformed the material in a more

rational and better way.
 Therefore, it can be concluded that memory is a constructive process as
the stored information is dynamic and changes or modifies from time to
time.
Psychology Class 11 & 12 YT
Nature and Causes of Forgetting
"The rate of forgetting is maximum in the first nine hours
particularly during the first hour after that the rate slows down

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and not much is forgotten even after many days."

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 Three main theories that explains forgetting are : -
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1). Forgetting due to trace decay (Memory traces, if not used for
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long time, it will fade away.)

2). Forgetting due to interference. (Proactive & retroactive)
3). Forgetting due to retrieval failure (Retrieval cues are absent
or inappropriate)
Psychology Class 11 & 12 YT
Enhancing memory
Strategies for improving memory are called mnemonics.

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 1). Mnemonics using images :

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 - The keyboard method
 - The method of Loci yc
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 2). Mnemonics using organisation :

 - Chunking
 - First letter technique
Psychology Class 11 & 12 YT
Suggestions for improving memory
 Engage in deep level processing

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 Minimise interference

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 Give yourself enough retrieval cues.

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What is PQRST technique? yc
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Psychology Class 11 & 12 YT

Topics Covered :
 Nature of memory

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 The stage model

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 Levels of processing
 Types of long term memory

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 Memory As A Constructive Process
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 Nature and Causes of Forgetting
 Enhancing memory
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Psychology Class 11 & 12 YT