The effect of memory schemata on memory and the phenomenological experience of naturalistic situations

Two experiments document the effect of memory schemata in naturalistic situations. Participants in both experiments watched a short videotaped lecture in which the instructor enacted several schema-consistent actions (e.g. writing on a whiteboard) and schema-inconsistent actions (e.g. smoking a cigarette). Following the videotaped lecture, participants completed a recognition test and rated the phenomenological content of their memories. In both experiments, memory was more accurate for schema-inconsistent actions than for schema-consistent actions. Participants also indicated that their memories of schema-inconsistent actions were more vivid than schema-consistent actions. Interestingly, in Experiment 2, the false memory rate for typical items increased across both 48-hour and one week retention intervals. These results have important implications for the processes of normal human memory in everyday situations. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.