Question

When Russell was growing up, he thought his grandma Betty was a hoarder because she had so much junk that you could hardly walk around her house. Now that Russell is an adult, he obsessively buys old board games and action figures that remind him of his youth. He has so many boxes lying around, he can barely make a pathway from his bedroom to his kitchen. Russell claims that he learned to collect from his grandma Betty, whose house he loved visiting because she "always collected really cool, meaningful stuff." The fact that Russell's memory about his grandmother is currently positive can best be described by a. forgetting b. misattribution c. memory bias d. suggestibility

Short answer

The best description of Russell's situation regarding his positive memory about his grandmother's house is c. memory bias, as his own adult tendencies and beliefs might have distorted his recollections.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the scenario

In this situation, Russell has a positive memory about his grandmother's house, thinking that she collected "cool, meaningful stuff," although it seemed like a hoarder's place when he was young. This could be because of his own tendency to collect things.

Analyze each option

a. Forgetting: This implies that Russell has entirely forgotten about his earlier perception of his grandmother's house. However, Russell is still able to recall the place, indicating that forgetting is not the correct answer. b. Misattribution: This would involve Russell attributing his perception to another source or event. Since his memory is still linked to his visits to his grandmother's house and he doesn't mention any other influences, misattribution does not seem to be the appropriate answer. c. Memory bias: Memory bias refers to the distortion of a person's memories based on their current beliefs, values, or emotions. Considering that Russell is now a collector himself, his perception of his grandmother's house has changed to something more positive, suggesting that memory bias is a possible answer. d. Suggestibility: This refers to the degree to which one's memory is influenced or altered by externally provided suggestions. In this case, there is no mention of any external factors influencing Russell's memory, making suggestibility a less likely option.

Select the best option

After analyzing all the options, it is evident that memory bias (option c) best describes Russell's situation regarding his currently positive memory about his grandmother's house. This is because his own tendencies and beliefs as an adult might have distorted his recollections.

Key concepts

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology is a branch of psychology focused on the way people process information. It involves understanding how we think, perceive, remember, and learn. This discipline covers a variety of functions such as problem-solving, decision-making, and memory, which are all part of everyday mental activities.

When analyzing Russell's situation, cognitive psychology can help explain his changed perception over time by recognizing that our cognitive processes are not static. They can be influenced by our current feelings, experiences, and knowledge. This transformation in perception showcases how malleable our cognitive system is, and how much our current psychological state can affect our recollection and understanding of past events.

Memory Distortion

Memory distortion happens when our recollections of the past are not accurate. As we encode, store, and retrieve memories, they can get confused or altered. Factors such as emotions, biases, or external cues can cause us to remember things differently than how they actually occurred.

In Russell's case, his original perception of his grandmother as a hoarder is overshadowed by his current fondness for collecting. This shift in perception is a typical example of memory distortion, where current behavior influences the recollection of past events. It is important to realize that memory is not an exact recounting of past experiences, but rather a constructed narrative that can be reshaped over time.

Implicit Memory

Implicit memory refers to the type of memory we use without conscious awareness. It drives our skills and habitual behaviors. For example, knowing how to ride a bike or type on a keyboard without having to consciously think about the actions involved.

Russell's habits of collecting items, akin to his grandmother's, demonstrate how implicit memory can guide our behaviors without us being fully aware of it. The positive association he has with collecting could've developed from the experiences with his grandmother, showing how implicit memories can shape our preferences and activities, even if they are not part of our conscious memory.