69. A person continuously watches media coverage of a crime that occurred at their school while they were present. Over time, the way they recall the incident changes. What is an explanation for why this occurs?
Answer: B
Rehearsal or repeated presentation by other sources causes the memory to be recalled differently.
This phenomenon occurs because the individual is repeatedly exposed to media coverage of the crime, leading to alterations in their memory recall. Such repeated presentations can introduce new information or perspectives that modify the initial memories of the incident.
A) The significance of the incident deteriorates over time, and new memories replace the original memories that are associated with the incident.
This option is incorrect because it suggests that new memories completely replace the original ones due to diminished significance. While memories may fade, the primary reason for changed recall in this scenario is the influence of external media rather than a deterioration of significance.
B) Rehearsal or repeated presentation by other sources causes the memory to be recalled differently.
This option is correct as it acknowledges that continuous exposure to media can lead to changes in how the incident is remembered. When individuals encounter different narratives or details through media, these can integrate into their memories, resulting in altered recall.
C) The cognitive load is too heavy, and the individual consciously alters the memory as a coping mechanism.
This choice is not accurate as it implies that the individual is intentionally modifying their memories due to cognitive overload. The changes in memory recall are more related to external influences rather than a conscious alteration as a coping strategy.
D) The individual's memories are reconstructed to fit their own cognitive schema associated with the incident.
While this option touches on memory reconstruction, it does not adequately explain the influence of external media. The memory changes in this context are primarily driven by repeated exposure to new information, rather than an internal reconstruction to fit a pre-existing cognitive schema.
Conclusion
The correct answer, B, emphasizes the impact of repeated media exposure on memory recall, which is a well-documented phenomenon in psychology. Other options fail to account for the role of external information or suggest inaccurate mechanisms for memory alteration. Thus, understanding how media influences memory is key to comprehending the changes in recall described in the question.