Everything that you know, you have learned through the filter of your senses and your unique experiences, according to panelists on Wednesday in Sherman Function Hall. The panel was a part of the new Brandeis CORE curriculum that requires students to attend at least one of the “Critical Conversations” moderated faculty discussions, according to a previous Hoot article.
Professor Angela Gutchess’ (PSYC) studies focus on memory, while Professor Jennifer Gutsell (PSYC) studies social psychology and neuropsychology along with how people understand each other. Professor Hannah Snyder (PSYC) studies cognitive functions related to mental health. The conversation was moderated by Professor Teresa Mitchell (PSYC).
“The other thing about science is that we always have to be willing to drop what we think is true today in the face of new evidence that disproves it,” said Mitchell.
Gutchess said that most people think of problems with memory as simply forgetting, but it’s more complex than that. A lot of issues regarding memory include the creation of false memories, according to Gutchess. She listed a series of words and told the audience to try to remember them. She then asked the audience to raise their hands if they recognized certain words. When she said the word “window,” the majority of the audience raised their hands, and Gutchess said that she didn’t actually say the word window—she said words related to windows. This exercise was an example of how false memories are created, according to Gutchess.
Gutsell explained how we care about what other people think about us in many aspects of our lives and often use our understanding of ourselves as a “template” when trying to understand other people. She said that this practice can often lead to us creating stereotypes when we see others as dissimilar to ourselves. The best way to correct harmful stereotypes is to “be humble” and find a “common identity” in other ways.
Snyder described the progression of how mental health psychology has shifted. She said that the first stage emphasized psychoanalysis and the importance of recognizing and interpreting the meaning of harmful thoughts. The second stage is when cognitive behavioral therapy emerged, according to Snyder, and those harmful thoughts should be addressed and changed. She said that the third stage consisted of psychologists saying that those thoughts might not even hold significance and shouldn’t be taken seriously.
