Memory
Psychologists aspire to understand the mind by observing, describing, explaining, predicting, and controlling certain behaviors within their field of study (Rathus). Several theories and perspectives will use memory as the basis of many different psychological theories and perspectives. For example, both John B. Watson?s Behaviorism and the, later created, learning perspective posit that the basis of behavior stems from accumulating knowledge, or learning, over time. Suggesting that memories are the foundation of which determines one`s behavior. Additionally, B.F. Skinner expanded on the ideas set by behaviorism by suggesting that, similar to animals, people learn certain behaviors via reinforcement, such as getting a reward …show more content…
Primary distinctions of long-term memory, introduced in 1972, consists of procedural, semantic, and episodic memory. Procedural memory constitutes the memory required to perform certain actions via motor functions. A prime example of procedural memory consists of easily remembered skills such as riding a bike, or what people often refer to as muscle memory. Semantic memory remains responsible for storing general information. Knowledge, such as the definitions of words or the capital of a country, falls under Semantic memory. Episodic memory consists of memories regarding events. These memories record events or episodes such as a first day in school or last year`s family Christmas party. These three classifications also fall under the categories of declarative and procedural memories. Declarative memory, semantic and episodic memories, deals with memory of what most consider actual knowledge: facts and events. This type of long term memory often coins the phrase explicit memory. Additionally, procedural memory deals with motor functions; the ability to unconsciously remember how to perform an action derives from the procedural memory of the action (McLeod, Long Term …show more content…
One explanation suggests that long-term memories consist of the connections between synapses with firing neutrons. Therefore, in order to create long term memories, the brain goes through long-term potentiation by altering connections in neurons within the overall neural network of the brain. When these neurons continue to firing again and again the memory is up kept and allows one to remain able to recall that memory. This process of constantly reactivating or focusing a memory also refers to as long term potentiation, and when these signals stop firing is when the memory becomes difficult to recall