Memory is an imperfect process

Essay from the year 2009 in the subject Psychology - Intelligence and Learning Psychology, grade: 2:2, University of Portsmouth, language: English, abstract: Memory can be defined as "e;the processes that are used to acquire, store, retain and later retrieve information"e; (Wagner, 2009). There are different types of memory, such as short term memory (STM), also called the working memory, which is often only stored for between 20-30 seconds due to limited capacity. Information is often displaced from the STM unless the information is rehearsed which then leads to it being transferred into the long term memory (LTM). The STM is used for things such as dialling a telephone number which, once dialled is often forgotten as it no longer has any relevance (Waugh & Norman, 1965, cited by Kowalski & Westen, 2005, p. 196). In contrast, the LTM holds more relevant information which may be needed in the future such as; dates, facts and emotions. If the information is later needed and therefore retrieved it will be brought back into the conscious mind and therefore into the STM (Kowalski & Westen, 2005, p.197). However there is a lot of evidence to suggest that memory is not a perfect process which will be discussed within this essay. Memory is often considered to be an imperfect process due to things such as memories are often distorted, false memories occurring (Schacter, 1999, p.193) along with people being suggestible to others memories leading them to believing them to be their own. Other sources suggest that some types of memory are perfect. For example remembering actions, such as riding a bike is often unforgettable (Kowalski & Westen, 2005, p .194).