Visual Imagery and Familiarity Ratings for 203 Sayings

Higbee, Kenneth L.; Millard, Richard J.

doi:10.2307/1422812

Cited by 21 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…This study used material that is more complex than word lists and that might have more external validity-ideas or concepts, expressed in the form of sayings. The material to be learned consisted of a list of 12 sayings selected from 203 sayings that were scaled for visual imagery and familiarity by Higbee and Millard (1983). The sayings varied in imagery level and in familiarity level.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

More motivational aspects of an imagery mnemonic

Higbee¹

1994

Applied Cognitive Psychology

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Mnemonics research has focused on cognitive aspects of mnemonics. This study explored some motivational aspects of mnemonics-factors that can affect how much people might want to use mnemonics. It was hypothesized that using a mnemonic can make learning easier and more fun. College students used the rhyming peg mnemonic to learn 12 sayings (e.g. 'Curiosity killed the cat'). The students rated the task as being easier (lower difficulty and effort) than did control students who learned the sayings without the mnemonic. There was also a tendency for the mnemonic students to rate the task as being more fun (higher interest and enjoyability), although behavioural measures of interest did not support the ratings. The mnemonic students also recalled more sayings than did the control students. The results suggest that, in addition to the cognitive effectiveness of mnemonics in increasing recall, mnemonics might also have the potential to make learning easier and possibly more fun.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

More motivational aspects of an imagery mnemonic

Higbee¹

1994

Applied Cognitive Psychology

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“…Expt 3 replicated Expts 1 and 2 with a third patient, a new group of controls and with different materials. Proverbs were chosen because they are memorable forms of language given their concrete contents (Highbee & Millard, 1983) and familiar proverbs are often highly overlearned (Pasamanick, 1983). They are also easily represented as visual images (Gibbs, Ström, & Spivey-Knowlton, 1997), and materials that can be represented in multiple modalities lead to robust memory representations (Paivio, 1971).…”

confidence: 99%

Evidence for a workspace model of working memory from semantic implicit processing in neglect

Sala

Meulen

Bestelmeyer

et al. 2010

Journal of Neuropsychology

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Three experiments tested the hypothesis that activation of semantic memory from perceptual input does not require initial retention of the perceptual material in working memory as assumed by a widely held view of information processing. In Expt 1, two brain-damaged patients with left-sided unilateral spatial neglect were tested. They were asked to listen to and read a series of familiar (British) and unfamiliar (foreign) proverbs and to choose which proverb was the best match to a depicted figure shown with the target object(s) on the left (neglected side) of the patients' visual field. Expt 2 simulated the testing conditions for the neglect patients with healthy participants using subliminal presentation of one half of each picture. Using different materials, Expt 3 replicated the outcomes of Expts 1 and 2 with a third neglect patient and a new group of controls. In all three experiments, participants appeared to be unaware of target features; however they selected familiar, but not unfamiliar, target proverbs above chance. The results showing implicit processing of semantic material can be explained by a model in which working memory is a separate system that deals with activated contents of semantic memory, and in which there is direct activation of semantic memory from perception without intermediate stages of processing in working memory.

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“…Judges first read an explanation of the differences between positive, negative, and "either" reframes, using illustrative proverbs from Higbee and Millard [41]. Except for the first author, judges were unaware of the hypotheses.…”

Section: Judgesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reframing and Wisdom within Proverbs

Tracy

Greco

Felix

et al. 2002

Imagination, Cognition and Personality

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Many proverbs seem to convey wisdom because they help people to reframe life's predicaments. Positive reframes, such as Every cloud has a silver lining, often draw positive implications from adverse circumstances (cf. "positive reappraisals," "gain frames"). In contrast, negative reframes, such as All that glitters is not gold, provide helpful warnings about difficult situations, and therefore encourage proactive coping (cf. "problem-focused coping"). This study examined the validity of the distinction between positive and negative reframes and whether the distinction applies to proverbs. Six judges categorized 199 proverbs as positive or negative reframes. Results showed that the positive reframes were rated by college students as more pleasant, conceptually simpler, and more familiar than the negative reframes. Further, proverbs that were composed by students were of higher quality when they *Robert J. Tracy became interested in proverbs and reframing because of parents who used proverbs but operated from different frames of reference. Retrospectively, it seems that father might have done more negative reframing and mother more positive reframing. Different portions of this study were presented earlier at various conventions [1-3]. 117Ó 2003, Baywood Publishing Co., Inc.were positive rather than negative reframes. On the other hand, positive and negative reframes occurred similarly often among the 199 proverbs, and did not differ consistently in rated truth, rated imagery arousal, or reading grade level. We concluded that many proverbs can be regarded as positive or negative reframes, which constitute basic thinking strategies that help people cope with life's challenges.Proverbs, such as Every cloud has a silver lining, are brief pithy sayings in frequent and widespread use that express a basic truth or practical precept [4; cf. 5, p. 134]. Proverbs typically use easily understood concepts, perhaps evoking imagery, to engender abstract meanings that are applicable to many situations [6, p. 130]. They are pervasive in everyday communication and in the media, and pertain to such varied topics as love, friendship, work, death, and wise conduct [5, p. 135]. Thousands of proverbs have been identified in American speech [7] and print [8]. There are also similar kinds of proverbs in different languages [5]. Proverbs are often used as informal summaries of notable events or to justify a decision. A stock market commentator might use Every cloud has a silver lining or All that glitters is not gold to metaphorically summarize a surprising change in a stock's value. Proverbs are also used with the intent of transforming someone by suggesting an improved way of thinking or behaving [6]. We suggest that many proverbs are popular because they help people to reframe and adjust to difficult situations and then elegantly express those reframes to others. Proverbs are thus "dressed-up' reframes that apply to situations that can be reframed positively in terms of benefits (gains) or negatively in terms of costs (losses). Positiv...

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Visual Imagery and Familiarity Ratings for 203 Sayings

Cited by 21 publications

References 18 publications

More motivational aspects of an imagery mnemonic

More motivational aspects of an imagery mnemonic

Evidence for a workspace model of working memory from semantic implicit processing in neglect

Reframing and Wisdom within Proverbs

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