The secret to remembering

Our memory is limited by the context in which we learn, as we have previously explored in depth in our discussion on encoding specificity. In essence, the more similar the context in which we are trying to recall something is to the context in which we learned it, the stronger our memory will be. However, there are various types of contexts, and the type of context can impact our ability to remember.

For example, strawberry jam is different to a traffic jam. So, while we’ve seen that it’s easier to remember a list while underwater if we learned that list underwater, our different kinds of memory can affect our learning. It works like this:

¶Extrinsic context

Extrinsic context refers to context that doesn’t actually change the meaning of the thing we’re trying to remember. So, to our strawberry jam example, it doesn’t matter if we LIKE jam or not, strawberry jam remains strawberry jam. Our mood won’t effect it, the weather that day won’t change what it is. These things are extrinsic to the actual nature of the jam.

Extrinsic contexts will effect how well we actually recall things. So, if you’re trying to remember what kind of jam you had on your toast the other day, you’ll remember it better if you wandered into the kitchen (where you ate it) as opposed to trying to remember in your bedroom (somewhere you didn’t eat it).

Extrinsic contexts do not effect whether we’ll recognise it though. So, when trying to remember, it won’t matter if you’re in your bedroom or the kitchen, if someone presents a jar of strawberry jam to you you’re equally likely to remember that you ate that the other day.

¶Intrinsic context

Intrinsic contexts are those contexts that actually effect the meaning of the thing you’re trying to learn. So, before, when I was talking about the difference between a traffic jam and strawberry jam, I was talking about the linguistic context, which is intrinsic. Unlike extrinsic contexts, intrinsic ones have an effect on both our recognition and our recall (for obvious reasons). If I came up to you and said the word ‘jam’, you probably wouldn’t have any idea what I was talking about (ignoring the fact that you don’t know me and I’m in your house). But if I asked you what you ate the other day and gave you the hint ‘strawberry’, then you’d probably get it in one. Intrinsic contexts are the things we use when we’re setting our password hints or setting up secret questions.

¶Outro

It’s important to know what contexts are relevant to your learning. What are you trying to remember and why? For multiple choice questions, you only really need to recognise what’s going on. But if you need to recall things, it’s good to tie them into meaningful contexts. The more the better, and you won’t likely forget.

So, you’ve learned elaboration is the way to go when it comes to memory, now learn the ‘magic number’ of memory; the optimal number of things to try and remember at once. Or learn how not all learning comes down to how good your memory is. Giving you the dirt on your search for understanding, psychological freedom and ‘the good life’ at The Dirt Psychology.