Sierra Martin
Article Reading Assignment 2: Working Memory Capacity
PSY 340
October 26, 2024
1) Working memory capacity is the amount of information that we can presently work
through and on regarding our surroundings and tasks at hand. Specifically regarding
attention it means how many things you may be aware of at a given time in your sight
likewise your work memory load is related to the amount in which you can take in all
areas of your working memory despite distractions.
2)
a. A piece of information that I found interesting but not surprising is that police
training may not always affect one's reaction towards racial stereotyping someone
that they encounter regardless of their working load capacity. I feel that this really
has more to say about the types of training we need to be administering to our
protective forces. We live in a nation where racial bias is prevalent in each and
everyone of us and we need to be able to cognitively work through these ideas to
save Black lives.
b. Before I get to a deeper point, one thing that blew my mind was that in a system
that pronounces “innocent until proven guilty” the opposite is true for the training
of the withholders of this idea. Treat everyone like they're guilty and try to assess
that they’re not? Anyways the connection between social perception and working
memory load was really interesting to me, especially as it concerns their function
physically/structurally.
c. An interesting point regarding jurors' decisions specifically regarding capital
punishment was the different ways in which we make decisions, hot (emotional)
or cold (logical).
3) The three solutions for increasing cognitive capacity mentioned in the article are:
raising working memory capacity, limiting cognitive load, and redirecting people to tasks
that are less taxing on their abilities. Personally I feel that the safest and quickest solution
in regards to the police force is redirecting people to tasks that are not as taxing. Moreso
having high accountability rates for every step of procedures done on the job. Limiting
cognitive load is something that I think all employers should consider as well, both of
these solutions limit the threat of external factors affecting dangerous situations.
4) I don’t feel that all jobs should be concerned about different levels of work memory
capacity. However I do feel that many would find these concepts to be highly applicable
regardless of workplace. I am not certain but I would assume that one’s work memory
capacity may increase with the length in which they have been in or around the field, as
well as who they are naturally. For most jobs I don’t feel that picking apart someone's
capacity is necessary. Though in high risk jobs like those mentioned in this study I feel
that these measures may be highly useful in regards to positioning or even acceptance to
the position. If you are routinely in training pulling your trigger due to lower capacity
there should be no reason you are armed and employed preparing to make a mistake that
costs someone their life.