The Experimental Psychology of Memory in Historical Context

Elizabeth Johnston
Sarah Lawrence College, Spring 2002

25th January: Orientation

The stream of thought flows on; but most of its segments fall into the bottomless abyss of oblivion. Of some, no memory survives the instant of their passage. Of others, it is confined to a few moments, hours, or days. Others, again leave vestiges which are indestructible, and by means of which they may be recalled as long as life endures. Can we explain these differences? (James, Principles, p. 643)

During this session several themes of the course will be opened up. Reading James' classic text provides a good entry point for many of the debates that still rage in the psychology of memory. Some of these themes are the vital role of time in memory and its use to differentiate memory systems, the relationship between consciousness and memory, the cultivation of memory, and the recurrent images of memory. Note that he opens the chapter with a perceptual metaphor, likening remembering to a perspective projection on a plane.

Reading:
James, W. (1890) Principles of Psychology. Chapter 16: Memory Full text in CHP

Historical Background: Wozniak's Introduction and some background for James' Principles

Data Assignment: Serial Reproduction
I will hand out your first data collection assignment in class, due to be submitted electronically by the end of Monday Feb. 4th.

1st February: The reinvention of 'memory': Ebbinghaus and Organic Memory

Reading:
Ebbinghaus, H. (1885) Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology. Full text in CHP. Read chapters 1-3 where Ebbinghaus sets up the rationale and design of his experiments. In chapters 4-9 he presents his results in tabular form, which is very difficult to 'eyeball'. I will plot and summarize some of the relevant data for you and post it on our WebBoard. [1/29/02: plots from chapters 4-7 available now, chapters 8&9 coming soon]
plus Wozniak's Introduction

Danziger, K. (2001). Whither the golden oldies of ESHHS: The Historiography of Psychological Objects. Web posting
Concentrate on the short section on memory as an object.

Draaisma, D. (2000). Metaphors of Memory. New York: Cambridge University Press. Chapter 4: A vast labyrinth. Photocopy.

Hacking, I. (1995). Rewriting the Soul: Multiple Personality and the Sciences of Memory. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Chapter 14: The Sciences of Memory. Photocopy.

8th and 15th of February: Bartlett's Constructive View of Remembering

Reading for the 8th:
Bartlett, F.C. (1932). Remembering: A Study in Experimental and Social Psychology. New York: Cambridge University Press. Chapters 1, 5, 7. In bookstore and on reserve.

Data Assignment: The Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ)
Due Monday 18th Feb.

Reading for the 15th:
Bartlett, F.C. (1932). Remembering: A Study in Experimental and Social Psychology. New York: Cambridge University Press. Chapter 10. In bookstore and on reserve.

Rubin, D. (1995). Memory in Oral Traditions. New York: Oxford University Press. Chapters 1 & 2. In bookstore and on reserve.

Johnston, E.B. (2001). The Repeated Reproduction of Remembering. History of Psychology, 4, 341-366. Full Text in PsycARTICLES

Data Assignment: Tip-of-the-tongue
Due electronically Monday 25th February

22nd February: Imagery

Galton, F. (1880) Statistics of Mental Imagery, Mind, 5, 301-318. Full text in CHP

Bartlett, F.C. (1932). Remembering: A Study in Experimental and Social Psychology. New York: Cambridge University Press. Chapter 11: Images and their Functions. In bookstore and on reserve. (Chapter 4 also)

Pillemer, D. B. (1998). Momentous Events, Vivid Memories. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Chapter 2: Memorable Moments. In bookstore and on reserve.

Rubin, D.C. (1995) Memory in Oral Traditions. New York: Oxford University Press. Chapter 3: Imagery. In bookstore and on reserve.

Data Assignment: Memorization
Due electronically Monday 4th March

1st March: Retrieval and theTip-of-the-Tongue Experience

Brown, A.S. (1991) A review of the tip-of-the-tongue experience. Psychological Bulletin, 109, 204-223. Full text in PsycARTICLES. On campus access. Off campus access.

Schacter, D. L. (2001). The Seven Sins of Memory. New York: Houghton Mifflin. Chapter 3: The Sin of Blocking. In bookstore and on reserve.

Rubin, D.C. (1995) Memory in Oral Traditions. New York: Oxford University Press. Chapter 4: Sound and Chapter 5: Combining Constraints. In bookstore and on reserve.

8th March: Mnemonic Expertise - Cuing Memory

Rubin, D.C. (1995) Memory in Oral Traditions. New York: Oxford University Press. Chapters 6, 7 & 8. In bookstore and on reserve.

Bartlett, F.C. (1932). Remembering: A Study in Experimental and Social Psychology. New York: Cambridge University Press. Chapter 14. In bookstore and on reserve.

Noice, H. & Noice, T. (1999). Long-term retention of theatrical roles. Memory, 7, 357-382. Full text available in EBSCOHost Academic Search Premier.

Additional Reading
Ericsson, K.A. & Kintsch, W. (1995) Long-Term Working Memory, Psychological Review, 102, 211-245. Full text in PsycARTICLES

Wegner, M.J. & Payne, D.G. (1995). On the Acquisition of Mnemonic Skill: Application of Skilled Memory Theory, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 1, 194-215. Full text in PsycARTICLES

15th March: Tulving's Anatomy of Memory and the Neuropsychology of Memory

Wheeler, M., Stuss, D. & Tulving, E. (1997) Toward a Theory of Episodic Memory: The Frontal Lobes and Autonoetic Consciousness. Psychological Bulletin, 121, 331-354. Abstract in PsycARTICLES Full text in PsycARTICLES
Off campus access (you need to login via the library page as an off-campus user before you use this link)


McClelland, J.L., McNaughton, B.L. & O'Reilly, R.C. (1995) Why are there complementary learning systems in the hippocampus and neocortex: insights from the successes and failures of connectionist models of learning and memory. Psychological Review, 102, 419-457. NB: Change in the assignment - read only the first 17 pages - to the end of the Answers to the Key Questions section
Full text in PsycARTICLES
Off campus access (you need to login via the library page as an off-campus user before you use this link)

SPRING BREAK

5th April: Eyewitness Testimony

Munsterberg, H. (1908/1925). On the witness stand. Full text in CHP

Haber, R.N. & Haber, L. (2000). Experiencing, Remembering and Reporting Events. Psychology, Public Policy & Law, 6, 1057-1097. Full text in PsycARTICLES

Schacter, D. L. (2001). The Seven Sins of Memory. New York: Houghton Mifflin. Chapter 4: The Sin of Misattribution and Chapter 5: The Sin of Suggestibility. In bookstore and on reserve.

12th April: Eyewitness Testimony Continued: System Variable Research

Wells, G. et al (2000). From the Lab to the Police Station: A Successful Application of Eyewitness Research. American Psychologist, 55, 581-598. Full text in PsycARTICLES

Report of Working Group (1999). Eyewitness Evidence: A Guide for Law Enforcement. Available as a pdf on the web

19th April: The Development of Personal Memory

Freud, (1901) The Psychopathology of Everyday Life, Chapter 4: Childhood and Concealing Memories.

Pillemer, D. B. (1998). Momentous Events, Vivid Memories. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Chapter 4: Image, Narrative and the Development of Self. In bookstore and on reserve.

Howe, M.L. & Courage, M.L. (1993). On resolving the enigma of infantile amnesia. Psychological Bulletin, 113, 305-326. Full text in PsycARTICLES off campus link

Harley, K. & Reese, E. (1999) Origins of Autobiographical Memory. Developmental Psychology, 35,1338-1348. Full Text in PsycARTICLES
off campus link

Additional Reading:

26th April: Relating Personal and Public Memories: Flashbulbs, Memorials, Cultural Differences

Wang, Q. (2001). Culture Effects on Adults' Earliest Childhood Recollection and Self-Description: Implications for the Relation Between Memory and the Self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 220-233. Full text in PsycARTICLES off campus link

Han, J.J., Leichtman, M. & Wang, Q. (1998). Autobiographical Memory in Korean, Chinese, and American Children. Developmental Psychology, 34, 701-713. Full text available in PsycARTICLES. off campus link

3rd May: Social/Collective Memory

Pillemer, D. B. (1998). Momentous Events, Vivid Memories. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Chapters 5 &6. In bookstore and on reserve.

Weldon, M.S. & Bellinger, K.D. (1997). Collective Memory: Collaborative and Individual Processes in Remembering. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 23, 1160-1175. Full text in PsycARTICLES off campus link

10th May: Student Presentations

17th May: Student Presentations