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John Seamon

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Understanding Memory: Explaining the Psychology of Memory through Movies

Wesleyan University

About this Course

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Welcome to Understanding Memory. Someone once said that memory is fascinating because sometimes we forget what we want to remember, sometimes we remember what we want to forget, and sometimes we remember events that never happened or never happened the way we remember them. I want to show you how memory works, why it sometimes fails, and what we can do to enhance it. Based on my recent book – Memory and Movies: What Films Can Teach Us About Memory (MIT Press, 2015) – I will provide an introduction to the scientific study of human memory by focusing on a select group of topics that hold widespread appeal. 
To facilitate your understanding, I will use clips from numerous films to illustrate different aspects of memory – describing what has been learned about memory in a nontechnical way for people with no prior background in psychology. Many of us love watching movies because they offer an unparalleled opportunity for entertainment, even if entertaining films are not always scientifically accurate. Still, I believe that we can learn a lot about memory from popular films, if we watch them with an educated eye. Welcome once more. I am looking forward to showing you what movies can teach us about memory.

John Seamon

Professor of Psychology Emeritus

Wesleyan University

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Approx. 8 hours to complete

English

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Skills you will gain

Psychology
Term (Time)
Semantics
Personal Development

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Approx. 8 hours to complete

English

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Instructor

Instructor rating

4.86/5 (421 Ratings)

John Seamon

Offered by

Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a diverse, energetic liberal arts community where critical thinking and practical idealism go hand in hand. With our distinctive scholar-teacher culture, creative programming, and commitment to interdisciplinary learning, Wesleyan challenges students to explore new ideas and change the world. Our graduates go on to lead and innovate in a wide variety of industries, including government, business, entertainment, and science.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(10,341 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Memory Processes and Memory Movies

1 hour to complete

5 videos (Total 38 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Making Long Lasting Memories

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 76 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

6 videos

Lecture 5: A Memory Worth Keeping - Film: After Life5mLecture 6: Creating Long Lasting Memories - Film: Cast Away20mLecture 7: Facing the Future by Looking Backward - Film: Groundhog Day9mLecture 8: Different Ways of Remembering - Film: Crash11mLecture 9: Where Do We Keep Our Memories - Film: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind10mLecture 10: Memory Champs, Mnemonics, and Savants - Movie: Rain Man17m

1 reading

Suggested Readings for Module 2 (optional)10m

1 practice exercise

Making Memories that Last30m

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Autobiographical Memories and Life Stories

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 65 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

6 videos

Lecture 11: Narrative Flashbacks - Film: The Kite Runner7mLecture 12: Tell Me a Story About You - Film: Slumdog Millionaire12mLecture 13: Emotion, Empathy, and Movies - Film: Cinema Paradiso: The New Version12mLecture 14: Distant Memories - Film: Titanic13mLecture 15: Unforgettable Moments - Film: Unchained Memories: The Slave Narratives10mLecture 16: Remember Me - Film: The Joy Luck Club7m

1 reading

Suggested Readings for Module 3 (optional)10m

1 practice exercise

Autobiographical Memories and Life Stories30m

Week4

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Understanding the Reality of Amnesia

2 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 66 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

5 videos

Lecture 17: Where Am I? - Film: Desperately Seeking Susan9mLecture 18: Organic Amnesia from Brain Injuries - Film: The Music Never Stopped16mLecture 19: Lost and Found Memories: Dissociative Amnesia - Film: The Return of the Soldier12mLecture 20: Lost and Found Memories: Dissociative Fugue - Film: The Majestic11mLecture 21: Memory's Most Studied Mind - Film: Memento15m

1 reading

Suggested Readings for Module 4 (optional)10m

1 practice exercise

Understanding the Reality of Amnesia30m

Reviews

4.7

641 reviews

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TOP REVIEWS FROM UNDERSTANDING MEMORY: EXPLAINING THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MEMORY THROUGH MOVIES

by EKAug 8, 2020

This is a throughly enjoyable experience.

Information was presented in a manner that made it easy to understand and the film clips accurately expressed what was being presented in the lecture.

by PAApr 9, 2021

I found the course very interesting & was fascinated to learn how memory works.

As I'm 86 years old it gives me hope that I can keep my hippocampus functioning.

Thank you.

by EJun 23, 2020

Excellent!!! I simply loved this course and I learned so much. Dr. Seamon guides us in this course to help us analyze, make insight throughout it's interesting, well organized lessons.

by MGMay 26, 2019

Thanks so much for the great course. I enjoyed it from the beginning. Most of the movies were my favorites too. The structure is great, language is carefully adjusted. I recommend the course.

View all reviews

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Is financial aid available?
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Understanding Memory: Explaining the Psychology of Memory through Movies

Understanding Memory: Explaining the Psychology of Memory through Movies

About this Course

Skills you will gain