Memory in Everyday Life

Memory in Everyday Life
Memory is far more than supply bringing to mind information encountered at some previous time. However the experiencing of some past event influences someone at a later time, the influence of the previous experience is a reflection of memory for that past event.

Systematic studies were conducted into this very topic in the 1970s and 1980s. Researchers found that, in fact, most people have very poor memories for familiar things – like coins.

This represents a types of memory which we tend to take for granted (but which - in sense – doesn’t really exist).

We tend remember the information that is most salient and useful for us. For instant, we may be much better at recalling the typical size, dimensions or color of coins than the direction of the head or the text on the coin, because the size dimensions or color may well be more relevant for us when we are using money.

And when remembering people, we will typically recall their faces and other distinguishing features that remain relatively invariant (and are, therefore, most useful in identifying them), rather than items which may change (such as individuals’ clothing).

Instead of thinking of coins and clothing, it is perhaps more straightforward for most people to consider the role of memory in the case of a student who attends a lecture and later brings to mind successfully what was taught in the lecture in the examination hall.

This is the type of ‘memory’ that we are all familiar with from our own school days.
Memory in Everyday Life