I have detailed memories of this day, too. I also have a detailed memory of a dinner with Endel Tulving during which he asked the group for our recollections of this day and then proceeded to identify specific factual errors in our memories! (Mine was that I recalled a rude comment a classmate made the next day - but Endel reminded me that Nov 22 occurred on a Friday that year so I could not possibly have attended school the following day.)
Neisser has documented a variety of common errors that creep into these memories. A public example of this is George W's recollection of seeing the first plane hit the tower on Sept 11 - but we have video of him getting the news whispered in his ear by an aid while he read My Pet Goat to children in a Florida classroom. People commonly show this sort of source migration - getting the initial news from a friend but weeks later believing that they learned about the event from a TV report. Our detailed memories of these events are as prone to error, script intrusions, blending with information learned later, and other sources of information , just like our other memories. They have a subjective quality that makes them feel special and absolutely veridical. But the evidence suggests they are not as veridical as we believe. The veridicality is illusory, but compelling. Claudia J. Stanny, Ph.D. Director, Center for University Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Associate Professor, Psychology University of West Florida Pensacola, FL 32514 - 5751 Phone: (850) 857-6355 or 473-7435 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CUTLA Web Site: http://uwf.edu/cutla/ Personal Web Pages: http://uwf.edu/cstanny/website/index.htm -----Original Message----- From: Dr. Bob Wildblood [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 1:16 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re:[tips] It's "It's That Day Again" Day Interesting. I remember very well where I was, what I was doing, and one of the things I said to someone who was with me on 11/22/1963. JFK was the first person I voted for and I was in the Navy at the time. I also remember vividly where I was and what I was doing on 9/11/2001. On the other hand I haven't the foggiest where I was or what I was doing when the Challenger disaster occurred, or when Regan was shot. I do remember 11/4/2008 (into 11/5) because my wife and I worked hard to help turn Indiana blue. Bob Bob Wildblood, PhD, HSPP Lecturer in Psychology Indiana University Kokomo Kokomo, IN 46904-9003 [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] We have in fact, two kinds of morality, side by side: one which we preach, but do not practice, and another which we practice, but seldom preach. -Bertrand Russell, philosopher, mathematician, author, Nobel laureate (1872-1970) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
