Psychology Week 6 Discussion Board 1-2

Written by P. A. Owens on September 26, 2018

Week 6 DB 1-2

DB 1:   Keeping in mind your chapter, please include previous knowledge gained from this text and answer the following: 

1) Please describe the basic processes involved in creating and retaining memory, to include, but not be limited to storage and retrieval.

The 3 basic processes of memory include putting it in, keeping it in, and getting it out. Otherwise known as encoding, storage, and retrieval. Encoding is the process in which the memory is actually made. The brain receives sensory information from one or more of the five senses and is then stored in the brain for later. The amount of time that the information is stored in the brain can vary, because there are 2 systems, long and short term, where the brain stores the information. The biggest problem people have is retrieval, that is, getting the information they know they have out of storage. (Ciccarelli and White, 2017)  

2)  Please provide a personal memory (one that will not make you uncomfortable) and describe these steps in reference to that memory.

The other day, this happens quite often it seems, I was sitting in my room watching a YouTube video with my earbuds in. It wasn’t turned up too loud so I could still hear what was going on around me. My sister walked into my room holding her 7 month old baby boy and asked me a question. She said, “Are you ready to go?” I didn’t quite catch it so naturally I said, “What?” but then a second or two later, if that, I responded to her question with, “Yeah let me grab my purse.” It was like I remembered what she had just said. Or as if  hadn’t processed it thoroughly when I responded the first time with “what”.  

3)  What type of memory is this, based upon the variations in your text?  What did you use to make that distinction?

Based on what happened, this definitely would have been echoic memory. I heard her say something then responded with “what”. I then paused for a second and it was as if I had remembered what she had said, or I had processed it thoroughly. So I responded to her question appropriately. I heard it but my brain didn’t process it immediately. Instead it took several seconds for me to realize that something was said, it may have been important and I better try and remember what was said. (Ciccarelli and White, 2017)

DB 2:  Your text describes a number of memory errors, or even pathologies. 

1)Describe the one you feel would be the least problematic in your life, using examples. 

I think that false memory syndrome would be least problematic in my own personal life. False memory syndrome refers to the creation of inaccurate or false memories through the suggestion of others, often while the person is under hypnosis. (Ciccarelli and White, 2017) Because a lot of the time false memory syndrome is a result of being put under hypnosis, I for one do not think I will ever be put under hypnosis in my lifetime, but I guess anything is possible these days. One reason someone would be hypnotized could be that they possibly saw something that needs to be known by the authorities. For example, they would be put under hypnosis so that they could remember, per say, who or what they saw when a crime was being committed. A child could even be put under hypnosis so the authorities could find out if they were abused or molested. I hope I will never be in a situation where hypnosis could be required. 

2) Why would this cause the least difficulty?  Please support your answers with research form your text, the supplemental information and any other reliable source.

Because one does almost always need to be put under hypnosis to have false memories accidentally placed in their real memory. This of course would be on accident, but there is always that risk when someone is put under hypnosis. They (researchers) found that these same individuals were often unable to later distinguish between the images they had really seen and the imagines images when asked to remember which images were real or imagined. (Ciccarelli and White, 2017) 

3)  How would you suggest a client or patient might overcome such challenges?

If the false memories were brought on by hypnosis, I would suggest they find a new, better hypnotist to hypnotize them again and replace the false memories with the real ones.

Citations:

Ciccarelli, Saundra K., & J. Noland White.  Psychology (REVEL with e-text/access code), 5th Edition.  Person 2017.  ISBN:  978-0134715305