Open primary navigation menu

Stephanie A. Berger, PhD

 

Professor of Psychology
PhD, Adelphi University
MA, Adelphi University
BA, University of Dayton

 

[email protected]
Founders Hall 432

Areas of Interest  

  • Autobiographical Memory
  • Accuracy and distortion of Autobiographical Memory
  • Functions and purpose of Autobiographical Memory
  • Relationship between personal goals and Autobiographical Memory

Dr. Berger’s research on Autobiographical Memory focuses on the functions of autobiographical memory and the accuracy of our memories for the personal past. Autobiographical memories function as building blocks for our sense of self and contribute to self-coherence. Research from Dr. Berger’s lab has found that these memories are generally accurate reflections of past events, however, we tend to forget or distort those that threaten our sense of self-coherence. Autobiographical memories also function to direct current behavior, especially behavior related to important life goals. Memories related to stronger goals are recalled more accurately and increasing the accuracy of goal-related memories may even change goal-related behavior. Dr. Berger also explores how normal cognitive processes can lead to strange beliefs and encourages students to think critically about their own cognitive processes and beliefs.

Professional Affiliations

  • Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
  • Psychonomic Society
  • Eastern Psychological Association
  • Psi Chi, The International Honors Society in Psychology

Publications

Gorfein, D., Berger, S. A. & Bubka, A. (2000). The selection of homograph meaning: Word association when context changes. Memory & Cognition, 28, 766-773.

Bahrick, H.P., Hall, L.K., & Berger, S. A. (2000). Accuracy and distortion in memory for high school grades. In U. Neisser & I. E. Hyman, Jr. (Eds.), Memory Observed (pp. 164-174). New York, NY: Worth.

Eerland, A., Sherrill, A. M., Magliano, J. P., Zwaan, R. A., Arnal, J. D., Aucoin, P., Berger, S.A., . . . Prenoveau, J. M. (2016). Registered replication report: Hart & Albarracín (2011). Perspectives on Psychological Science, 11, 158–171. (Contributing author)

Berger, S.A., Hall, L. K., & Bahrick, H. P. (1999). Stabilizing access to marginal and sub-marginal knowledge. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 5, 438-447.

Select Presentations
*Student co-authors

Berger, S. A., *Hungerford, K. & *Quintana, A. (2023, March). Memories of school during the pandemic predict inappropriate academic behaviors in college [Poster Session] 94th Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Berger, S. A. (June, 2019). Can retrieving autobiographical memories of difficult times in close relationships predict the likelihood of lying? Presented at the 13th Meeting of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, Cape Cod, MA.

*Johnson, C. & Berger, S.A. (March, 2019). Telling Lies and Using Excuses Face-to-Face and Online. Poster presented at the 90th Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, NY.

Berger, S. A., Saphan. L. & Brown, N. (November, 2018). Autobiographical Memory of Khmer Rouge Survivors. Poster Presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society, New Orleans, LA.

*Hernandez, V., *Coppola, A., Berger, S. A., & *Johnson, C. (March, 2018). Autobiographical Memories of Close Relationships in Good Times and Bad Times, Presented at the 89th Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, PA.