Rote Memorization

Synonyms

Automatism; Repetition

Definition

Rote memorization is theoretical term to describe storing of information in long-term memory through sheer repetition. Although rote memorization seems to be an important step in learning some subjects rote learning is often criticized as poor learning.

Theoretical Background

William James’ (1890) Principles of Psychology and Henri Bergson’s Matter and Memory (1991) have had wide and profound influence on cognitive science. For Bergson, there are two forms of memorization in the form of representations and action. Bergson distinguishes a memory that stores the facts of our daily life including images from a memory that is actualized in terms of motor mechanisms. Bergson takes the example of the lesson learned by heart and which, through repetition, results in a form of automatism. He likens this form of memory to habit-memory, opposing it to image-memory that does not rely on repetition but maintains an important degree of imagination. “We...