Decay Theory in STM and Theory of Duration in STM

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Decay Theory in STM and Theory of Duration in STM

The theory suggests STM can only hold information for between 15 and

30 seconds unless it is rehearsed Brown & Peterson (1959). After this

time the information Decays (fades away). Waugh & Norman (1965) used

the Serial Probe Technique to test the theory.

Participants were given a series of numbers to learn. They were then

given one of the numbers and asked which number followed it. For

example; participants were given the Probe word 7 and asked what

followed it, the answer is 3.

The numbers were presented at different speeds therefore the faster

the numbers presented the better the recall if Trace Decay theory is

correct as the more likely the information is to remain in the STM.

The results did not support the theory. This research employed the

laboratory experiment and its validity can therefore be questioned.

Displacement in STM

The idea of displacement in STM causing forgetting relates to the

Capacity of STM as proposed by Miller (1956). It simply suggests that

if the capacity of STM is limited to 7 plus or minus 2 items or chunks

of information then STM is full then some of that information must be

kicked out or displaced in order for new information to enter.

Retrieval Failure in LTM

This theory suggests that all information received is stored in LTM

but that some information is difficult or impossible to access.

This idea is characterised by the

something but just cannot recall it. Retrieval of such information is

thought to be dependent on three factors:

1. Firstly Context-Depend...

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Zimbardo (1995)reported the case of Eileen. In 1989 Eileen suddenly

remembered the reason for her childhood friend, Susan's, disappearance

twenty years earlier. Eileen's father had raped and murdered her.

Eileen had repressed this memory due to threats from her father and

the understandable trauma it caused. Her father was sentenced to life

imprisonment.

Often however repressed memories are difficult to substantiate which

has led to the notion of False Memory Syndrome (Pynoos & Nader 1989)

where recall of so-called repressed memories may be false although

real to the person remembering them.

Repression as a theory of forgetting is based on Case Study evidence

and therefore is impossible to generalise from or replicate. Case

studies are highly subjectiveand tend to personal and subjective

interpretations.

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