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