Albert Michotte and Memory

Abstract

ABSTRACT Albert Michotte, known primarily for his research in perception, also carried out several experiments in logical mebory' (concptual or intellectual memory). He was strongly influenced by Kulpe, feeling that the thought processes were autonomous, in contradiction to more traditional and elementary conceptions of mental activity. His experiments, using paired-associate techniques' to stuWy the place of thoughtsin. logical memory, made note of time to complete each word pair; interval between presentation and test; and the. subjects° introspections about the experience:, perceptions of they ,.word pair, and trains of thought engendered by the presentation of a single word. Significant findings were the different patterns of conscious phenomena each subject used in recalling the second word of the pairs, regardless of almost identical recall accuracy, and the large number of intermediary phenomena (relational and non-relational thought, visual imagery, and false Words) that made up the recall procesS. Michotte concluded that relational thought was necessary to logical Temory, but that it could not stand alone. Michottegs emphasis on memory as a contributor to action (one experiment was carried 'on in everyday situations instead.of the laboratory) and his discovery of the multiplicity of means by which different individuals arrive at the same outcome are still, of significance to current memory research. (MR)