Strategic memory search processes

Remembering experiences from one's own past is a central cognitive process that is a component in the performance of many behaviors. Much of conversation, for example, consists of two parties conveying experiences relevant to their topic of discussion. Comprehension not only relies on generalizations that have been learned about the world but often entails accessing individual experiences in order to make sense of a story or a real-world event (Schank, 1982). Furthermore, planning actions in order to solve problems often requires accessing past experiences along with general knowledge (Carbonell, 1982; Kolodner, 1983a; Ross, 1984).