Re: Behavioral Genetics: A pseudo science or real scientific discipline


GS: There are a few mistakes here: first, and foremost, glossing over
the
subtleties of conditioning procedures as "memory" illustrates the
fundamental conceptual muddle of mainstream psychology. It is not that
the
term "memory" would not fit here, it is that "memory" applies to
virtually
all psychological phenomena. This is why the "kinds" of memory have
proliferated. This might not be too bad, but mainstream psychology has
no
interest, really, in the variables that are responsible for the few
generalities they obtain in "memory research." So-called short-term
memory
is treated as sort of pre-existing characteristic, but there is good
reason
to believe that STM is a loose collection of response classes that are
acquired when animals, human and otherwise, are exposed to delays
between
events correlated with other significant events and those significant
events. Animals learn to behave in extremely subtle ways that are
dependent
upon the particular setting and these responses, then, serve to
discriminatively control behavior when the delay is over and the
"opportunity to act" arises. Thus, STM is a product of more basic
conditioning processes and specific ontogenic circumstances are
necessary
for it to exist. The point here, which cannot be emphasized enough, is
that
"behavioral genetics" is applied within the context of a conceptual
muddle
that renders mainstream psychology virtually worthless.

MR: Interesting. I have poor long term memory. I thought this might be
due to an overwhelming desire to forget it..and for several years to
pretend "experiences" did not occur. However, I know people who have
had worse experiences than myself who have much better long term memory
and crystal clarity of many past events. I will look at some
photographs and it will kind of jog my memory and it is like I can
almost remember it but not with crystal clarity remembering exactly
that moment. My long term memory is more fluid (if there is such a
think) and is not "static" like snapshots in a film reel where I can
rewind and specifically remember "being there".

Drugs can also effect memory. Since 1989 I've taken lithium. Currently
take lithium, depakoate, geodon, trazedone, and recently weaned myself
off effexor since this is the worse season for bipolar people. The
drugs may have some effect on memory but as you stated there are many
variables involved in memory.


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