The effect of survival processing on memory for pictures depends on how memory is tested

Dewhurst, Stephen A.; Anderson, Rachel J.; O’Connor, Richard J.; Dean, Graham

Abstract

Two experiments investigated the effects of survival processing on memory for pictures of objects. In experiment 1, participants were presented with 32 pictures of common objects and rated them for their relevance to a survival scenario, a moving home scenario, or for pleasantness. In a surprise recall test, participants in the survival condition recalled more of the verbal labels of the objects than participants in the moving and pleasantness conditions. In experiment 2, participants rated 64 pictures of objects in survival, moving home, or pleasantness conditions. Memory for visual detail was assessed using a forced-choice recognition test in which participants had to decide which of two highly similar pictures was the one they rated at study. In contrast to the results of experiment 1, correct recognition scores were highest in the pleasantness condition and lowest in the survival condition. This pattern suggests that survival processing enhances memory for objects but not for precise visual detail. The findings are consistent with the view that rating objects for their survival value directs attention to the potential uses of the objects. They also emphasise the importance of the match between encoding and retrieval processes in the survival processing paradigm.

Citation

Dewhurst, S. A., Anderson, R. J., O’Connor, R. J., & Dean, G. (in press). The effect of survival processing on memory for pictures depends on how memory is tested. Memory, https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2023.2171436

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 18, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jan 27, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jan 19, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 28, 2024
• Journal: Memory
• Print ISSN: 0965-8211
• Electronic ISSN: 1464-0686
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2023.2171436
• Keywords: Survival processing; Picture memory; Transfer-appropriate processing; Elaborative encoding‌
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4184782