Memory, Bias, and
Post-hockery
Memory – three Types

Sensory



Short-term



short duration (the initial 200-500 ms)
large capacity (unlimited?)
short duration (seconds to minute)
small capacity (magic number 7±2)
Long-term


long duration (days, months, years)
large capacity (unlimited?)
Memory – Processes and Biases

Encode – translating information into memory
Store – retention of information over time
Recall – retrieving the stored information
Motivation – your focus and attention is selective
Emotion! – strength, clarity, and valence
Memory – Processes and Biases
Encode – translating information into memory.

Store – retention of information over time
Recall – retrieving the stored information
Misinformation – “post-event information effect”
Time – memory can erode over time
Memory – Processes and Biases
Encode – translating information into memory
Store – retention of information over time
 Recall – retrieving the stored information
Emotion! – “mood congruence”
Leading Questions
Overconfidence
Post-hockery

Humans have a tendency to interpret new
information in a way that confirms prior beliefs
Post-hockery

Humans have a tendency to interpret new
information in a way that confirms prior beliefs
“Barnum effect”
Bible code
Graphology
Rorschach
Hot-hand
Post-hockery

Humans have a tendency to interpret new
information in a way that confirms prior beliefs
“Barnum effect”
Bible code
Graphology
Rorschach
Hot-hand
Post-hockery

Humans have a tendency to interpret new
information in a way that confirms prior beliefs
“Barnum effect”
Bible code
Graphology
Rorschach
Hot-hand
Post-hockery

Humans have a tendency to interpret new
information in a way that confirms prior beliefs
“Barnum effect”
Bible code
Graphology
Rorschach
Hot-hand
Post-hockery

Humans have a tendency to interpret new
information in a way that confirms prior beliefs
“Barnum effect”
Bible code
Graphology
Rorschach
Hot-hand
Memory and Pseudoscience

Encode: Motivation, Emotion

Store:
Misinformation, Time

Recall:
Emotion, Leading Questions, Overconfidence

Post-hockery - tendency to interpret new
information in a way that confirms prior beliefs
- Alien Abductions, Sleep Paralysis, and Contamination Effect
- Psychics, Nostradamus, Tarot Card readings, and Fortune Telling
- Communicating with the Dead, Past Life Regression
- Faith Healing, and Psychic Surgery
- Media Paradox, Vividness, and Availability