This courses addresses memory not only as an individual recording system, but as a dynamic process that is constantly re-constructed within social relations, cultural practices and digital platforms. In the first week, in the light of classic and contemporary cognitive models, we discuss how memory systems (sensory, short-term, long-term) function, how we encode and store information and why we are frequently mistaken. We examine the “cognitive architecture of remembering” on a line extending to neurocognitive frameworks such as from source monitoring errors to reconstructed memories, from working memory to predictive processing.
In the second week, we move our focus beyond the boundaries of individual memory and turn to self, culture and social environment. We address the role of autobiographical memory in identity construction, how cultural contexts highlight which memories and how belonging and identities are established through collective memory and narratives. With the rise of the digital age we discuss the cognitive and cultural consequences of “cognitive offloading”, that is, the practices of offloading remembering to devices (Google, screenshots, photos, social media archives).
In the third week, we address the forms of forgetting and distortion in the digital age by focusing on the effects of false memories, misinformation effect, algorithmic recall, and social media posts on memory. By the end of these three weeks, participants will be able to evaluate memory's cognitive, social, and cultural levels, especially in the context of social media and digital platforms, with a critical and holistic perspective.
Our instructor Ezgi Bilgin is a final-year PhD student at Cornell University Department of Psychology and continues her work at the Culture and Cognition Laboratory. Having completed her graduate education in cognitive psychology at Koç University, Ezgi Bilgin focuses on the effects of the internet and social media on memory in her research, examining how digital platforms reshape the processes of remembering and forgetting and the cognitive and cultural mechanisms underlying these processes. Alongside her academic studies, Ezgi Bilgin is a passionate runner, and one of her dreams is to run the Boston Marathon.
Week 1: Cognitive Processes of Remembering (January 6)::
Topics:
- Memory systems (sensory, short-term, long-term)
- Processes of encoding, storing, and retrieving information
- The fallible nature of memory: source monitoring errors and reconstruction
Lesson Objective:
The objective of this lesson is to ensure participants grasp the structure of human memory, its modes of operation, and how it is organized through cognitive processes. At the same time, it aims for them to learn why memory does not always function correctly; how it can be distorted, and the cognitive mechanisms that cause misremembering.
Theories and Concepts:
Modal Model of Memory (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968)
- Memory systems: Sensory memory → Short-term memory → Long-term memory
- Structural functioning of memory
Levels of Processing Theory (Craik & Lockhart, 1972)
- Information processing (shallow/deep)
- The difference between rote memorization and meaningful learning
Working Memory Model (Baddeley & Hitch, 1974)
- Components of short-term memory
- Attention management in complex tasks
Encoding Specificity Principle (Tulving & Thomson, 1973)
- Retrieval is easier with cues that match the context present during encoding
Schema Theory (Bartlett, 1932)
- Memory is structured by existing schemas (e.g., prior knowledge and expectations)
Constructive Memory Framework (Schacter, 1999)
- The seven sins of memory
- False memory
Contemporary Neurocognitive Approaches
- Memory operates through networks and computations
- Constructive Episodic Simulation Hypothesis
- Default Mode Network (DMN)
- Predictive Processing Framework
Week 2: Self, Culture, and Memory in Social Context (January 13):
Topics:
- Autobiographical memory and self-construction
- Social sharing and collective remembering processes
- The shaping of memory in a cultural context
- Remembering in the context of social media, "cognitive offloading," and the externalization of digital memory
Lesson Objective:
The objective of this lesson is to demonstrate that individual memory is constructed not only cognitively but also socially and culturally. Participants will learn how autobiographical memory is intertwined with self-development and how memory is shaped through cultural values, social relationships, and digital practices.
Theories and Concepts:
Self-Memory System Theory (Conway & Pleydell-Pearce, 2000)
- Autobiographical memory, identity construction
Autobiographical Memory and Culture
- The relationship between autobiographical memory and culture
Collective Memory & Narrative Construction
- Collective memory, identity, belonging
- Cognitive mechanisms constituting collective memory
Cognitive Offloading & Digital Memory
- Relying on devices instead of remembering (e.g., Google, screenshots, photos) and cognitive consequences
- Memory externalization in social media
Week 3: False Remembering, Forgetting, and Limits of Digital Memory (January 20):
Topics:
- Misinformation effect
- Distortion of memory in the digital age: false memories, algorithmic recall
- Remembering Social Media Posts
Lesson Objective:
The objective of this lesson is to understand why memory is prone to forgetting within the framework of cognitive and social theories and to examine how social media use and digital interactions shape retrieval processes. Current phenomena such as misinformation, false memories, and digital memories will be discussed.
Theories and Concepts:
Mechanisms of Forgetting in Online Environments
- Interference, suppression
- Motivated forgetting
Misinformation Effect
- Exposure to misinformation and its effects on memory
"Sharing" Culture in the Instagram Age and its Effect on Memory
- Effects of social media posts on memory (e.g., photo or text, personal information or news)
- The role of interactions
The course fee is 1750 TL per person, including VAT. Payment details will be shared via e-mail with participants whose applications are approved as soon as possible. The language of instruction will be Turkish.
