Frequently Asked Questions

Dr. Lester M. Sdorow, author of Psychology, answers questions about memory.

1. How can I use what I know about memory to improve my study habits and do better on tests?

The chapter in the textbook on memory describes several effective techniques. When I was an undergraduate, I made great use of overlearning. In overlearning course material, you memorize it until you feel you have mastered it--and then go over it a few more times. Students who practice overlearning perform better, in part, because they are more confident when they take their exams. Of course, overlearning takes time and discipline, but it is worth it. I tell my students that the difference between good students and excellent students might be related to the practice of overlearning.

2. Why do some people remember details from many years ago, while they have trouble remembering recent events?

Only a fraction of things you experienced long ago can be recalled. Thus, you can recall the details of certain things from many years ago only if they have been firmly entrenched in long-term memory. In contrast, you might not have committed a particular recent event to long-term memory, so you find it more difficult to recall. This would account for why you might recall the name of a classmate from third grade more than the name of a person you met yesterday. Hearing your fellow third-grader's name mentioned over and over might account for its being stored in your long-term memory. You might have to hear the name of the person you met yesterday a few more times before it becomes firmly stored in your long-term memory.

3. Why do some people remember things more easily than other people do?

In some cases, difficulty in remembering is the result of brain damage, as in people with Alzheimer's disease. But in most cases, it is probably related to different approaches to remembering the items. As described in the textbook chapter, you will be more likely to store information in long-term memory if you use elaborative rehearsal than if you use maintenance rehearsal. Perhaps people who make more of a point of using elaborative rehearsal remember things more easily than those who don't.

4. How can psychologists apply what they know about recalling repressed memories to help people?

Psychologists differ in their beliefs about the very notion of repressed memories. Many, most notably those with a psychoanalytic orientation, believe that traumatic memories can be repressed into the unconscious mind and influence our behavior without our awareness. Many others, most notably those who doubt the validity of psychoanalytic concepts, believe that there is no such thing as a repressed memory. Many critics fear that belief in repressed memories has led to an epidemic of adults claiming to suddenly recall repressed memories of childhood sexual and physical abuse that did not actually occur. This is an important issue, because we need to bring child abusers to justice while at the same time not accusing people of child abuse based on false memories.