Memory Isa Constructive and Dynmaic System Rather Thana...

Memory is a constructive and dynamic system rather than a passive mechanism for recording external information. Evaluate this claim, making reference to research findings. In order to evaluate this claim it is necessary to look at some of the research that has been carried out on memory. Most of the relevant research findings support the theory that memory is indeed a constructive and dynamic system but how much of what we store in our memory is down to active and conscious energy and how much information is absorbed in a passive and automatic way. Brace and Roth (as cited in Brace and Roth, 2007, pg130) state that â€Å"memory is an active, selective and constructive process rather than a passive mechanism for recording external†¦show more content†¦Brace and Roth (as cited in Brace and Roth 2007, pg 168) support Bartlett’s theory and state that memories are â€Å"central to learning, they are dynamic – always in the process of being created and developed as we learn and adapt through our lives.† There are techniques that we can employ to help us remember and strengthen our memories. We can elaborate and change details a bout events and information that we remember and of course we can lose memories completely. A good example of this is the diary study that was carried out over the course of six years by Marigold Linton. Linton kept a diary every day in order to investigate her autobiographical memory. Linton found that by the end of the study she had forgotten 30 per cent of all the events recorded. She also found that even though she had marked some events as more significant at the time than others this had no impact on the events that she remembered. With prompts such as organising the events into topics, themes or putting them into chronological order she could remember more details. Other psychologists like Conway for example also found the same results. The findings support the idea that autobiographical memories are organized hierarchically and are stored within time periods and themes (Brace and Roth, 2007). This also supports the claim that memory is a constructive and dynamic system as th e brain has sorted the information into different categories.