Final answer:
Bartlett's 'reconstructive memory' refers to the process where memories are re-created each time they are retrieved, potentially including new information which can result in altered or inaccurate memories. This concept highlights memory's flexibility and susceptibility to change, and has significant implications in fields like psychology, law, and therapy.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Frederick C. Bartlett referred to 'reconstructive memory', he was describing the psychological process by which memories are not stored in the brain as static entities, but are instead reassembled or reconstructed each time they are recalled. According to Bartlett, when we attempt to remember a past event, we do not retrieve an exact replica of the event; rather, we piece together the memory, potentially including new information or interpretation that wasn't part of the original event. This reconstruction process can result in the content loaded memory being altered or distorted, which often occurs without the individual's conscious intent to modify the memory.
Memory construction and reconstruction are distinguished by the creation of new memories (construction) and the retrieval of old ones (reconstruction). As we retrieve our memories from long-term to short-term memory, they can become flexible and susceptible to changes. This means that during the reconstruction process, new events may be integrated, and we can alter what we think we remember about the past, leading to inaccuracies.
Researchers like Elizabeth Loftus have furthered this understanding, suggesting that entire events can be falsely recalled, even if they never occurred. This is particularly relevant in legal settings where witness testimony must be scrutinized for such reconstructive memory tendencies. Therefore, Bartlett's concept of reconstructive memory has significant implications for a variety of fields, including psychology, law, and therapy for disorders such as post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), where treatment may involve navigating the complexities of memory reconstruction.