Retrieval cues are the prompts of stimuli that help people remember things. They help people access their memories that are stored within the long-term memory, thus enabling their conscious awareness to remember things (Chapter 6). Retrieval cues make remembering things very easy. I have experienced various situations in which my retrieval cues have helped me remember things. The first instance was when I went back to my home town, ten years after leaving. I had forgotten most of the kids we attended elementary school together (Chapter 6). Most of them were still living in the neighborhood, while others came back for the reunion party organized by our former elementary school. When I reached the place, I was certain that I would not remember any of my former classmates. Everyone had grown, making it difficult to recognize them. However, my retrieval cues played a crucial in remembering most of my classmates. For instance, the first person I remembered was Kevin. During the elementary school years, Kevin was a naughty kid who would always shrug anyone trying to engage him. Kevin had developed a specific walking style whereby he would bend his back to appear stronger than everyone else. Immediately I saw someone walking in such a manner, my memory immediately switched, and I remembered Kevin’s name. The retrieval cues were also crucial in remembering the other classmates as only through these attributions could I recall them.
The textbook illustrates the concept of memory loss in movies. In this context, characters experiencing various traumas like accidents lose their memories eventually. In such situations, the characters are unable to identify people close to them, implying that their memory capacity has been altered (Chapter 6). In a similar manner, my memory condition was altered due to indulgences in several activities, like schooling and other aspects of life. Eventually, various attributes regarding my classmates were stored in the long-term memory, making it difficult for me to remember them. However, just like movies use retrieval cues to ensure characters remember what they forgot, I also used my retrieval cues, which in this case, were behaviors and walking styles.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
My retrieval process followed a distinct procedure, which enabled me to remember Kevin and other former classmates. The first thing that helped me remember the classmates was the formation of visual images within my brain. While sitting in a strategic position, observing everyone in the room, I formed various visual images in my brain (Comparing Short-Term and Long-term Memories). The images connected various past activities and experiences during the elementary school years. I then linked the formed mental images to the people I was observing. In this way, my memory was able to remember everyone without even asking for their names. However, despite the inability to remember everyone by their names, I was able to recall various attributes relating to them. Therefore, when approaching everyone, I would have a special memory that I would use to remind the classmates what I still remembered of them.
In this situation, it would have been difficult for me to remember my former classmates without seeing them. After attending this event, my memory status transformed immediately, enabling me to remember everyone. The retrieval cues, in this situation, could only work after recalling or recognizing various people in the scene (Comparing Short-Term and Long-term Memories). For instance, if I had not attended the event, it was unlikely that I would observe Kevin walking; hence, I would probably no remember him all my life. The situation was similar to most of the former classmates. Another perfect example from this event is when I remembered Diana, by hearing her voice. When in elementary school, Diana usually talked in a unique soft voice. During the event, I recognized Diana among the various ladies through her voice. The voice acted as the retrieval cue for my memory towards Diana.
Reference
Chapter 6. Long-term Memory Structure. Comparing Short-Term and Long-term Memories
