Understanding Memory: Explaining the Psychology of Memory through Movies
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Understanding Memory: Explaining the Psychology of Memory through Movies
Wesleyan University
À propos de ce cours
4.6
936 ratings
Welcome to Understanding Memory. Someone once said that memory is fascinating because sometimes we forget what we want to remember, sometimes we remember what we want to forget, and sometimes we remember events that never happened or never happened the way we remember them. I want to show you how memory works, why it sometimes fails, and what we can do to enhance it. Based on my recent book – Memory and Movies: What Films Can Teach Us About Memory (MIT Press, 2015) – I will provide an introduction to the scientific study of human memory by focusing on a select group of topics that hold widespread appeal.
To facilitate your understanding, I will use clips from numerous films to illustrate different aspects of memory – describing what has been learned about memory in a nontechnical way for people with no prior background in psychology. Many of us love watching movies because they offer an unparalleled opportunity for entertainment, even if entertaining films are not always scientifically accurate. Still, I believe that we can learn a lot about memory from popular films, if we watch them with an educated eye. Welcome once more. I am looking forward to showing you what movies can teach us about memory.
John Seamon
Professor of Psychology Emeritus
Wesleyan University
Compétences que vous acquerrez
PsychologySemanticsPersonal DevelopmentTerm (Time)
Programme du cours : ce que vous apprendrez dans ce cours
1
Section
Memory Processes and Memory Movies
Human memory involves a collection of systems that enable us to remember the past and imagine the future. Films can enhance our understanding of memory by telling us stories about people, illustrating how their present was shaped by their past and how, by watching their stories, we might navigate similar situations in our future.
5 vidéos (Total 38 min), 1 lecture, 1 quiz
5 vidéos
Lecture 1: Sometimes Life Imitates Art - Film: 50 First Dates6 min
Lecture 2: What is Memory? - Film: Finding Nemo10 min
Lecture 3: Memory's Everyday Function13 min
Lecture 4: Using Films to Tell Stories About Memory - Film: The Princess Bride5 min
1 lecture
Suggested Readings for Module 1 (optional)10 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Memory Processes and Memory Films28 min
2
Section
Making Long Lasting Memories
Memory’s main purpose is to facilitate future thinking. But to plan successful future actions, effective strategies for learning and retention are needed. Some strategies are highly effective for producing long lasting memories, others are not.
6 vidéos (Total 76 min), 1 lecture, 1 quiz
6 vidéos
Lecture 6: Creating Long Lasting Memories - Film: Cast Away20 min
Lecture 7: Facing the Future by Looking Backward - Film: Groundhog Day9 min
Lecture 8: Different Ways of Remembering - Film: Crash11 min
Lecture 9: Where Do We Keep Our Memories - Film: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind10 min
Lecture 10: Memory Champs, Mnemonics, and Savants - Movie: Rain Man17 min
1 lecture
Suggested Readings for Module 2 (optional)10 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Making Memories that Last28 min
3
Section
Autobiographical Memories and Life Stories
Each of us has a life story based on our personal experiences. These autobiographical memories define us and make us unique. But in telling our life story, we have reconstructed a personal narrative, much like a memoir writer. These recollections are generally accurate, but our memories are never a perfect record of the past.
6 vidéos (Total 65 min), 1 lecture, 1 quiz
6 vidéos
Lecture 12: Tell Me a Story About You - Film: Slumdog Millionaire12 min
Lecture 13: Emotion, Empathy, and Movies - Film: Cinema Paradiso: The New Version12 min
Lecture 14: Distant Memories - Film: Titanic13 min
Lecture 15: Unforgettable Moments - Film: Unchained Memories: The Slave Narratives10 min
Lecture 16: Remember Me - Film: The Joy Luck Club7 min
1 lecture
Suggested Readings for Module 3 (optional)10 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Autobiographical Memories and Life Stories28 min
4
Section
Understanding the Reality of Amnesia
Amnesia has often been portrayed in film as resulting from a bump on the head and cured by another head bonk. In real life, amnesia can follow physical or emotional trauma, it may be temporary or permanent, and if it resolves, it is never from another blow to the head.
5 vidéos (Total 66 min), 1 lecture, 1 quiz
5 vidéos
Lecture 18: Organic Amnesia from Brain Injuries - Film: The Music Never Stopped16 min
Lecture 19: Lost and Found Memories: Dissociative Amnesia - Film: The Return of the Soldier12 min
Lecture 20: Lost and Found Memories: Dissociative Fugue - Film: The Majestic11 min
Lecture 21: Memory's Most Studied Mind - Film: Memento15 min
1 lecture
Suggested Readings for Module 4 (optional)10 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Understanding the Reality of Amnesia28 min
4.6
31%
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Meilleurs avis
par VS•Sep 9th 2016
Very good course. It complete its purpose and manage to teach a lot of things in a simple and fast way, wich is the objetive of Coursera. Also, the forum is full of discussions, wich is interesting.
par MP•Mar 19th 2017
This was a fascinating course and the movie content he used was amazing. I would like to look into it further and am hoping there was a similar course or an extra course to expand on the content.
Enseignant
John Seamon
Professor EmeritusPsychology
À propos de Wesleyan University
At Wesleyan, distinguished scholar-teachers work closely with students, taking advantage of fluidity among disciplines to explore the world with a variety of tools. The university seeks to build a diverse, energetic community of students, faculty, and staff who think critically and creatively and who value independence of mind and generosity of spirit.
Foire Aux Questions
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