Films and Memory

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how human memory consists of past events and knowledge. Whatever we have done in the past leaves traces in the memory, and when a person is confronted with a similar situation again, these past traces help the person in the similar situation. It also discusses how the effect of watching different films also leaves behind traces on the person's memory and how scientific and psychological research confirms that watching violent programs, compared to nonviolent programs, leaves a much deeper mark on the memory.

Outline
Introduction
The Process of Memory Recall
Excitation Theory
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Moreover, Loftus and Burns (1982) established that for events occurring immediately (i.e., within four seconds) prior to the violent incident, memory was drastically poorer for subjects who had been exposed to a violent stimulus compared to subjects not exposed to the stimulus. In the Loftus and Burns study, viewers saw a tape of a bank robbery. In the experimental film i.e., with violent stimuli, the bank robbers shot a child in the face. In the control film i.e., no violent stimuli, the film cuts back to the interior of the bank. In both films, approximately four seconds before the critical moment either the child is shot or the film cuts to the bank interior a boy wearing a football jersey with a number on the back runs into the scene."

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