Memory Masters
What is the process of putting information into memory called?
Encoding
What is sensation?
The process of detecting stimuli through the senses
What is intrinsic motivation?
Motivation driven by internal rewards like enjoyment or interest
Name one biological factor that can affect behaviour.
Sleep, brain chemistry, hormones, genetics
Why do advertisers use bright colours?
To attract attention and influence perception
What memory store holds information for a very short time (about 20-30 seconds)?
Short-term memory / working memory
What is perception?
The process of interpreting and making sense of sensory information
What is extrinsic motivation?
Motivation driven by external rewards like money, grades, or praise
Name one psychological factor in behaviour.
Thoughts, emotions, beliefs, coping strategies
Why do video games use reward systems?
To increase motivation through reinforcement
Why does chunking improve memory?
It reduces cognitive load and increases capacity of working memory
What is inattentional blindness?
Failing to notice an unexpected stimulus when attention is focused elsewhere
Name one reason performance might drop under pressure.
Anxiety, overthinking, or increased arousal beyond optimal level
Name one social factor that influences behaviour.
Family, peers, culture, media
Why does sleep improve memory performance?
Sleep helps consolidate memories from short-term to long-term storage
What is retrieval failure?
When information is stored but cannot be accessed
What is change blindness?
Failing to notice a change in a visual scene when the change occurs gradually or during a visual disruption
What does the Yerkes-Dodson Law suggest?
Performance improves with arousal up to an optimal point, then decreases if arousal is too high
Apply the biopsychosocial model to stress in a student.
Biological (sleep loss), psychological (anxiety), social (peer pressure or school expectations)
How can stress sometimes improve performance?
Moderate arousal can increase focus and alertness (Yerkes-Dodson Law)
Explain why eyewitness testimony can be unreliable using a memory theory.
Memory is reconstructive; it can be influenced by misinformation, leading questions, and post-event discussion
Explain how inattentional blindness shows that attention is limited.
It demonstrates that when attention is focused on one task, the brain filters out other visible stimuli, meaning we can miss obvious events happening in plain sight
Explain why rewards can sometimes reduce motivation.
Over-reliance on extrinsic rewards can reduce intrinsic motivation (overjustification effect)
Why is the biopsychosocial model better than a single-factor explanation?
It recognises that behaviour is influenced by interacting biological, psychological, and social factors, making explanations more complete
Explain how memory, motivation, and perception could all affect exam performance.
Memory affects recall of information, motivation affects study effort, and perception influences confidence and interpretation of questions