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information entity > theoretical entity > theory > associative-activation theory

Preferred term

associative-activation theory  

Definition(s)

  • The associative activation theory (AAT) "proposes that throughout the course of development, people acquire new knowledge and learn new information. The consequence of this is that their knowledge base becomes more elaborated, interrelated, and dense. According to AAT, a knowledge base consists of interrelated nodes that contain representations of information (e.g., autobiographical memories). When someone experiences an event, these nodes will be triggered by associative activation. The links between these nodes will become stronger and associative activation will be faster and more automatic as development proceeds and new knowledge is acquired. AAT posits that during the process of associative activation, nodes will be activated that represent concepts of information that were not really experienced, thereby leading to the formation of false memories." (Otgaar et al., 2017, p. 1052). .

Broader concept(s)

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Bibliographic citation(s)

  • • Howe, M. L., Wimmer, M. C., Gagnon, N., & Plumpton, S. (2009). An associative-activation theory of children’s and adults’ memory illusions. Journal of Memory and Language, 60(2), 229-251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2008.10.00

    [Study type: empirical study / Access: closed]
  • • Otgaar, H., Howe, M. L., Merckelbach, H., & Muris, P. (2018). Who is the better eyewitness? Sometimes adults but at other times children. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27(5), 378–385. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721418770998

    [Study type: literature review / Access: open]
  • • Otgaar, H., Howe, M. L., Muris, P., & Merckelbach, H. (2019). Associative activation as a mechanism underlying false memory formation. Clinical Psychological Science, 7(2), 191–195. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702618807189

    [Study type: literature review / Access: closed]
  • • Otgaar, H., Muris, P., Howe, M. L., & Merckelbach, H. (2017). What drives false memories in psychopathology? A case for associative activation. Clinical Psychological Science, 5(6), 1048–1069. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702617724424

    [Study type: literature review / Access: open]

Creator

  • Frank Arnould

Theory of

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URI

http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/P66-J3TGR3QW-V

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