Psychological Theories to Personal Experiences

¶ … Psychological Theories to Personal Experiences

There are unlimited personal events to which psychological theories and concepts can be applied. Of particular interest is a profound and prolonged experience in which I was fortunately able to engage that not only broadened my overall perspective but also enhanced my understanding of psychology. Theories such as those of language development, learning, cognition, metacognition, motivation, and memory are relevant to the present discussion. However, the principles of memory impressed me most.

I had the opportunity to study abroad in Argentina for a semester. To maximize the experience, I completely immersed myself in the culture and language. Initially, this was exhausting and it was necessary to take frequent breaks and even naps to integrate what I had just experienced. Many times words and phrases escaped my grasp but I learned to relax and concentrate on the gist of the exchange, using verbal cues, body and facial gestures, context, and the overriding emotions to assist me in this endeavor. Naturally, the combination of a relaxed attitude and continual exposure fostered within me more accurate listening and speaking skills.

As I matured in my communicative capabilities, I was motivated to learn more about the nuances of the language. As an active person who wanted maximum contact with native people, language, and culture, I regularly partook in social outings and performed functional activities, such as paying utilities and ordering domestic supplies. With such continual stimuli, I was ever learning new material. Naturally, there is a limit to one's ability to remember large amounts of information. In fact, research indicates that seven bits of data is typically the threshold of short-term memory. Confronted with a restricted capacity to remember but a boundless thirst for new knowledge, I created a system that would compensate the former and satisfy the latter.

During daily activities, I carried with me a notebook and pencil in my book bag or wallet. When faced with a new term, phrase, or concept, I would write it down immediately or at the first opportune moment. At times, when unsure about the spelling, I would even jot down the phonetic representation. In the beginning, this was an awkward behavior but eventually I managed to turn it into a habit. There were some occasions when I didn't have immediate access to paper and pencil in which case I made a mental note of the target information and would later record it. What was particularly helpful in retaining the newly acquired knowledge was transferring the scribbled notes into a more permanent and neatly organized diary that I still have today, although my experience in Argentina has ended.

Despite studying psychology and in particular the learning and memory processes, it is interesting to note that the abovementioned strategies happened spontaneously when placed in a (literally) foreign environment. Undoubtedly, a strong desire to capitalize on the novelty of the situation served as fodder for the development of learning and memory techniques. While the psychological jargon escaped me at the time, I nonetheless employed the concepts associated with memory theory.

For example, encoding took place when I was able to perceive a piece of information; there were many instances during which meanings or sounds were beyond my grasp. Retaining or storing data was largely due to my motivation and efforts to capture the exchange. Using a tangible item to which I could later refer aided me in retrieving the unwritten information. That is to say, upon reflection of my notes and in a calm environment I was able to recreate the context in which the conversation took place. This was particularly helpful in learning words or phrases that did not immediately resonate. Furthermore, connecting an otherwise insignificant and isolated set of data with personal and meaningful experiences imprinted the knowledge upon my memory. To this day, when I review what I call my language log, I easily recollect specific occurrences that took place when I learned a particular word, phrase, or concept. For example, there is an entry related to plumbing that immediately reminds me of a leaky sink which a friend and I unsuccessfully attempted to fix. Memory theory states that meaningful data is more likely to be retained than insignificant information; at the time I was implementing such advice in a mainly intuitive manner.

The next step in moving target information from short-term to long-term memory was manipulating it in appropriate, everyday interactions. In other words, building on the example above, I related the funny plumbing situation to as many acquaintances as possible thereby creating plenty opportunity for practicing the new words and phrases. I felt encouraged when what I expressed was intelligible to those around me, which naturally led me to use the information more often. This rehearsal and consequent positive reinforcement cemented newly acquired knowledge into my long-term memory. I retrieve that information quite often as I review my language log on a regular basis.