Question 1

Decay theory works well to explain forgetting in _____________.
A)sensory memory only
B)short-term memory only
C)long-term memory only
D)sensory memory and short-term memory

Accepted Answer

Decay theory suggests that memory fades due to the mere passage of time. It is most applicable to sensory memory and short-term memory, where information can fade quickly if not actively maintained or rehearsed. Long-term memories are considered to be more stable and less susceptible to decay over time.

Question 2

You are invited to take part in a study by a researcher trying to replicate the work of Hermann Ebbinghaus.What might this researcher ask you to do?
A)"Write down all the words you can remember."
B)"Read this poem and then interpret its meaning."
C)"Listen to me: BEC,DAX,FER,KOJ;now repeat what I said."
D)"Listen to these sounds and write down words that come to mind."

Accepted Answer

Hermann Ebbinghaus was known for his work on memory and the forgetting curve, and famously used nonsense syllables (like BEC, DAX, FER, and KOJ) to test memory. Therefore, the researcher may ask participants to repeat a list of nonsense syllables like in option C.

Question 3

In the curve of forgetting developed by Ebbinghaus,the greatest amount of forgetting occurs _____________.
A)within the first hour after learning new material
B)within the first day after learning new material
C)near the end of the retrieval period
D)near the middle of the retrieval period

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the curve of forgetting developed by...

Question 4

Your teacher has given each student the name of a key figure in the history of psychology.The assignment is to describe at least one significant contribution made by this person.If your historical figure is Hermann Ebbinghaus,what contribution might you describe to the class?
A)He described the limits of sensory storage.
B)He discovered the parts of the brain responsible for processing memories.
C)He created nonsense syllables in order to study memory in a "pure" form.
D)He developed a series of memory aids that is still used by students today.

Accepted Answer

Hermann Ebbinghaus is most known for his work on memory, and specifically for his creation of nonsense syllables. Nonsense syllables are three-letter combinations of letters that do not form words (such as "LUZ" or "NEV"). He used these to study memory in a "pure" form, as they have no pre-existing meaning or association. His work on nonsense syllables led to the discovery of the "forgetting curve", which shows the rate at which information is forgotten over time.

Question 5

Which of these individuals is the most typical person involved in a case in which memories of past childhood abuse are recalled later in life?
A)Thirty-year-old Charlotte who sought therapy for anxiety,depression,and recent weight gain with a therapist who uses hypnosis
B)Thirty-year-old Steve who sought therapy for symptoms that developed after serving in Desert Storm
C)Ten-year-old Willard who was referred by a pediatrician for symptoms that appear to meet the diagnostic criteria for hyperactivity
D)Fifty-year-old Agnes who fell,hit her head,and suddenly began remembering that her brother abused her sexually when she was eight years old

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that the most typical person involved in recalling childhood abuse later in life is a woman in her 30s or 40s who sought therapy for depression, anxiety, or other emotional problems and who was treated by a therapist who used hypnosis or another suggestive technique. This profile fits Charlotte, who is a 30-year-old seeking therapy for anxiety, depression, and weight gain with a therapist who uses hypnosis.

Question 6

Proactive interference as used in the study of memory refers to when _____________.
A)older information already in memory interferes with the retrieval of newer information
B)newer information interferes with the retrieval of older information
C)information is not attended to and fails to be encoded
D)information that is not accessed decays from the storage system over time

Accepted Answer

Proactive interference occurs when previously learned information interferes with the ability to remember new information. This commonly occurs in everyday life when we struggle to remember a new phone number because we are so used to dialing an old number.

Question 7

Forgetting in long-term memory is most likely due to _____________.
A)interference from other information
B)decay or disuse
C)encoding failure
D)none of these

Accepted Answer

The answer of Forgetting in long-term memory is most likely...

Question 8

Most people have difficulty actually recognizing the correct image of the Lincoln penny.The most likely cause of this problem is _______________.
A)interference
B)memory trace decay
C)encoding failure
D)repression

Accepted Answer

Encoding failure refers to the inability to properly store information in memory due to inadequate or ineffective encoding. In the case of the Lincoln penny, individuals may not have encoded the specific details of the image, such as the placement of Lincoln's profile or the wording on the coin, resulting in difficulty recognizing the correct image. Repression refers to the unconscious blocking of traumatic or unpleasant memories and is not relevant to this scenario. Interference may play a role in memory retrieval, but encoding failure is the most likely cause of difficulty recognizing the correct image. Memory trace decay refers to the gradual fading of a memory over time and is not applicable to this situation as the individual may have never properly encoded the image in the first place.

Question 9

Imagine that the first car you learned to drive was a manual transmission with a clutch,but the car you drive now is an automatic.Sometimes you find yourself reaching for the clutch that is no longer there.This example illustrates ________.
A)retroactive interference
B)proactive interference
C)retrograde amnesia
D)anterograde amnesia

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates proactive interference, where old memories interfere with the recall of new memories. In this case, the habit of reaching for a clutch (old memory) interferes with the operation of an automatic car (new memory).

Question 10

Which of the following statements about memory retrieval while under hypnosis is NOT TRUE?
A)These memories are more accurate than other kinds of memories.
B)Age regression through hypnosis can increase the accuracy of recall of early childhood memories.
C)Therapists have induced false memories through hypnosis.
D)All of the statements are not true.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements about memory...

Question 11

A.R.Luria studied an individual with phenomenal memory.This person was a ____________.
A)gestaltiker
B)hypnotist
C)child prodigy
D)mnemonist

Accepted Answer

Luria studied a mnemonist, which is an individual with extraordinary memory abilities.

Question 12

A psychologist asks people to recall the name of their kindergarten teacher.Surprisingly,the majority of people correctly do this and comment,"Gee whiz,I haven't thought about that old bat [or old coot] in years!" Their ability to do so is a severe problem for which theory of forgetting?
A)interference theory
B)decay or disuse
C)encoding failure
D)retroactive interference

Accepted Answer

The decay or disuse theory suggests that memories fade over time if they are not accessed. The ability to recall a kindergarten teacher's name after many years without thinking about it challenges this theory, as it implies that the memory has not decayed despite lack of use.

Question 13

What type of stimuli did Hermann Ebbinghaus use in his memory experiments?
A)words
B)numbers
C)pictures
D)nonsense syllables

Accepted Answer

Hermann Ebbinghaus used nonsense syllables in his memory experiments.

Question 14

Ebbinghaus found that information is forgotten ____________.
A)more rapidly as time goes by
B)gradually at first,then with increasing speed
C)quickly at first,then tapers off gradually
D)most quickly one day after learning

Accepted Answer

Ebbinghaus's research on memory and forgetting showed that information is forgotten quickly at first, but the rate of forgetting slows down over time. This is represented by the forgetting curve, which illustrates how memory retention decreases over time in a curve that initially drops sharply and then levels off.

Question 15

Researchers using MRI scanning have found that _______________.
A)false memories of visual images and visual images of real events are processed in different brain locations
B)false memories of visual images and visual images of real events are processed in much the same way
C)they could not localize where false visual images were processed
D)they could not localize where correct or real visual images were processed

Accepted Answer

The answer of Researchers using MRI scanning have found that...

Question 16

You start out using Firefox,then change to Explorer because your company demands that browsers be Microsoft products.If you have trouble with Explorer,it is most likely due to ______________.
A)proactive interference
B)retroactive interference
C)anterograde interference
D)consolidation problems

Accepted Answer

The answer of You start out using Firefox,then change to...

Question 17

A.R.Luria studied a mnemonist with phenomenal memory.This person had several problems associated with the ability.Which was one was reported in your textbook?
A)repressed memory syndrome
B)tip-of-the-tongue aphasia
C)separating trivial from important memories.
D)cognitive penetrance

Accepted Answer

The answer of A.R.Luria studied a mnemonist with phenomenal memory.This...

Question 18

Shalissa has two exams today.One is in French and the other is in history.Last night she studied French before history.When she gets to her history test,all she can remember is French! Shalissa's memory is suffering from _____________.
A)cue-dependent forgetting
B)proactive interference
C)decay
D)retroactive interference

Accepted Answer

Proactive interference occurs when previously learned information interferes with the ability to recall new information. In this case, Shalissa's study of French before history has interfered with her ability to recall information for her history exam.

Question 19

Which technique is widely used by therapists to help clients recover lost childhood memories?
A)hypnosis
B)"truth" serum
C)Gestalt therapy
D)electroconvulsive therapy

Accepted Answer

Hypnosis is a commonly used technique by therapists to help clients recover lost childhood memories. It is believed that hypnosis can access the unconscious mind and help clients retrieve repressed memories. However, it is important to note that the accuracy and validity of these memories can be questionable and controversial. The use of "truth" serum and electroconvulsive therapy are not typically used to help clients recover lost memories, and Gestalt therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on self-awareness and the present moment rather than memory retrieval.

Question 20

Pezdek and colleagues found that for a person to interpret thoughts and fantasies about false events as true memories ________________.
A)the event must seem as vivid as possible
B)the person must believe in hypnosis
C)they must be plausible
D)they must hear about the event several times

Accepted Answer

Pezdek and colleagues found that for a person to interpret thoughts and fantasies about false events as true memories, they must be plausible. This means that the person must perceive the events as something that could have realistically happened in their past, even if they did not actually occur.

Quiz 6: Memory

Decay theory works well to explain forgetting in _____________.

You are invited to take part in a study by a researcher trying to replicate the work of Hermann Ebbinghaus.What might this researcher ask you to do?

In the curve of forgetting developed by Ebbinghaus,the greatest amount of forgetting occurs _____________.

Your teacher has given each student the name of a key figure in the history of psychology.The assignment is to describe at least one significant contribution made by this person.If your historical figure is Hermann Ebbinghaus,what contribution might you describe to the class?

Which of these individuals is the most typical person involved in a case in which memories of past childhood abuse are recalled later in life?

Proactive interference as used in the study of memory refers to when _____________.

Forgetting in long-term memory is most likely due to _____________.

Most people have difficulty actually recognizing the correct image of the Lincoln penny.The most likely cause of this problem is _______________.

Imagine that the first car you learned to drive was a manual transmission with a clutch,but the car you drive now is an automatic.Sometimes you find yourself reaching for the clutch that is no longer there.This example illustrates ________.

Which of the following statements about memory retrieval while under hypnosis is NOT TRUE?

A.R.Luria studied an individual with phenomenal memory.This person was a ____________.

A psychologist asks people to recall the name of their kindergarten teacher.Surprisingly,the majority of people correctly do this and comment,"Gee whiz,I haven't thought about that old bat [or old coot] in years!" Their ability to do so is a severe problem for which theory of forgetting?

What type of stimuli did Hermann Ebbinghaus use in his memory experiments?

Ebbinghaus found that information is forgotten ____________.

Researchers using MRI scanning have found that _______________.

You start out using Firefox,then change to Explorer because your company demands that browsers be Microsoft products.If you have trouble with Explorer,it is most likely due to ______________.

A.R.Luria studied a mnemonist with phenomenal memory.This person had several problems associated with the ability.Which was one was reported in your textbook?

Shalissa has two exams today.One is in French and the other is in history.Last night she studied French before history.When she gets to her history test,all she can remember is French! Shalissa's memory is suffering from _____________.

Which technique is widely used by therapists to help clients recover lost childhood memories?

Pezdek and colleagues found that for a person to interpret thoughts and fantasies about false events as true memories ________________.