Mnemic neglect and dual processes

Karolyn BudzekAttention & Memory

Fall 2007

Mnemic neglect People recall feedback more poorly

when it is threatening and about the self

Sedikides & Green (2000; 2004); Green & Sedikides (2004)

Mnemic neglect model Two-stage processing sequence Stage 1: Information is compared to self

If self-threatening or inconsistent, processing ceases

If positive or self-congruent… Stage 2: Elaborative processing occurs

Links are made with episodic memories about the self

Stage 1 Stage 2

Incongruent information

Congruent information

How does this relate to my self-concept?

Mnemic neglect model at encoding

Incongruent information

Congruent information

Mnemic neglect model at retrieval

Stage 1 Stage 2

Familiarity Recollection

Incongruent information

Congruent information

Mnemic neglect as dual processes

Mnemic neglect findings Received computer personality

feedback positive or negative self or Chris

Recall for self-negative was lower Under limited presentation time,

recall for all four categories was equally low

Poorer recall for high diagnosticity feedback

Sedikides & Green, 2000; Green & Sedikides, 2004

Recall of feedback

Series10

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

High diagnosticity Low diagnosticity

Self Chris Self Chris

Negativ

e

Positive

Negativ

e

Positive

Central

Peripheral

Green, Pinter, & Sedikides, 2005

Utility of social cognition ‘models’ Emphasis on previously

bundled context effects Relation to course topics

Koriat – Memory Accuracy Brown – SIMPLE False memories?

Problems Why is this “defensive” neglect

happening at both encoding and retrieval? Nairne, Encoding—Retrieval Match

Does it make more sense to suggest that it is encoded and suppressed? Dream rebound. Wegner

How is the self represented in memory??

Stage 1 Stage 2

Incongruent information

Congruent information

How does this relate to my self-concept?

Mnemic neglect model at encoding

Strategic use of available cognitive resources

Narcissists have self-serving recall in the valence of the romantic histories they provide after romantic selection or rejection

Egoistic self-enhancers have a bias for positive information, unless a video camera was present

Enhancement vs. verification Findings: people prefer positive

feedback Confound: Most people are high self-

esteem Conclusion: People actually prefer

verifying feedback; congruent with their self-concept

Mnemic neglect response: Self-protection is one of several self-evaluation motives like self-improvement