Accessibility is how easily a schema, such as a memory, is brought to mind and influences our behavior. Things that you think of more frequently are brought to mind easier than things you don't.
To understand the concept of accessibility, imagine a circuit board with electricity running through it's wires. The electricity moves through hot wires easier and faster than it does the cold wires. The electricity heats any wire it passes through and the wires are constantly cooling off. Accessibility refers to the heat of the wires and how easy electricity passes through them.
Accessing Memory
All memory is accessed with some kind of cue, whether a thought ( what is the name of x? ) or a stimulus ( seeing a picture of x or smelling an fragrance associated with a memory ).
Access State Principle
See Also
- association
- associative network
- attitude
- long term memory
- person perception
- priming
- schema
- social cognition
- stereotype
- stereotyping
Similar Pages
Categories: memory psychology social-psychology