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Cited by 794Memory Processes and InfluencesCognitive Functions and MemoryFace Recognition and Perception

Verbal overshadowing of visual memories: Some things are better left unsaid

Schooler, Jonathan W, Engstler-Schooler, Tonya Y·1990·Cognitive Psychology
DOI 10.1016/0010-0285(90)90003-m
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Abstract

It is widely believed that verbal processing generally improves memory performance. However, in a series of six experiments, verbalizing the appearance of previously seen visual stimuli impaired subsequent recognition performance. In Experiment 1, subjects viewed a videotape including a salient individual. Later, some subjects described the individual's face. Subjects who verbalized the face performed less well on a subsequent recognition test than control subjects who did not engage in memory verbalization. The results of Experiment 2 replicated those of Experiment 1 and further clarified the effect of memory verbalization by demonstrating that visualization does not impair face recognition. In Experiments 3 and 4 we explored the hypothesis that memory verbalization impairs memory for stimuli that are difficult to put into words. In Experiment 3 memory impairment followed the verbalization of a different visual stimulus: color. In Experiment 4 marginal memory improvement followed the verbalization of a verbal stimulus: a brief spoken statement. In Experiments 5 and 6 the source of verbally induced memory impairment was explored. The results of Experiment 5 suggested that the impairment does not reflect a temporary verbal set, but rather indicates relatively long-lasting memory interference. Finally, Experiment 6 demonstrated that limiting subjects' time to make recognition decisions alleviates the impairment, suggesting that memory verbalization overshadows but does not erad…

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6 of 6 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The concept of retrieval competition between alternative representations features strongly in the literature on verbal overshadowing and has been incorporated into several models of therapeutic change.

    “The concept of retrieval competition between alternative representations features strongly in the literature on verbal overshadowing (Schooler & Engstler-Schooler, 1990; Brandimonte & Collina, 2008), and has similarly been incorporated into several models of therapeutic change (Bjork & Bjork, 2006; Brewin, 2006).”

    From Episodic memory, perceptual memory, and their interaction: Foundations for a theory of posttraumatic stress disorder. (2014) · cites this paper as Schooler & Engstler-Schooler, 1990

  • Participants who described a robber after watching a video were subsequently poorer at picking him out of a lineup than control participants who read an unrelated text for the same amount of time.

    “Participants who described the robber were subsequently poorer at picking him out of a lineup, compared with control participants who read an unrelated text for the same amount of time.”

    From Episodic memory, perceptual memory, and their interaction: Foundations for a theory of posttraumatic stress disorder. (2014) · cites this paper as Schooler & Engstler-Schooler, 1990

  • Verbal description of a perpetrator is associated with a 25% reduction in recognition.

    “verbal description of the perpetrator of a crime was associated with a 25% reduction in recognition of the perpetrator’s face.”

    From Inner Speech: Development, Cognitive Functions, Phenomenology, and Neurobiology (2015) · cites this paper as Schooler & Engstler-Schooler, 1990

  • In the psychology literature, there are tasks where verbal thinking hurts human performance.

    “To explore our approach, we first draw on the psychology literature for a collection of tasks where verbal thinking hurts human performance (Schooler & Engstler-Schooler, 1990 ;Dijksterhuis, 2004;Van den Bos & Poletiek, 2008, inter alia).”

    From Mind Your Step (by Step): Chain-of-Thought can Reduce Performance on Tasks where Thinking Makes Humans Worse (2024) · cites this paper as Schooler & Engstler-Schooler, 1990

  • Participants prompted to verbally describe the faces performed worse than those who were not.

    “Participants prompted to verbally describe the faces performed worse than those who were not (Schooler & Engstler-Schooler, 1990).”

    From Mind Your Step (by Step): Chain-of-Thought can Reduce Performance on Tasks where Thinking Makes Humans Worse (2024) · cites this paper as Schooler & Engstler-Schooler, 1990

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Authors
Schooler, J. W., & Engstler-Schooler, T. Y.
Affiliations
University of Pittsburgh (US)
Corresponding author
Schooler, Jonathan W
ORCID
Schooler, Jonathan W
Venue
Cognitive Psychology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1990-01
Volume
22
Issue
1
Pages
36-71
ISSN
0010-0285 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/0010-0285(90)90003-m
OpenAlex
W1985876211
Cited by
794
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 38
FWCI
4.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Cognitive Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
Keywords
verbal overshadowing, visual memory, face recognition (cognition), recognition memory, memory interference, verbal memory, color memory, decision time, memory representation
MeSH terms
Cues, Face, Form Perception, Humans, Memory, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Verbal Behavior

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