What term refers to a shared system for storing and retrieving information within a group?

The term that refers to a shared system for storing and retrieving information within a group is transactive memory. This concept describes how groups, such as teams or close relationships, develop a collective memory system in which individual members specialize in different areas of knowledge. These members rely on one another to remember and retrieve information, enhancing the overall efficiency and accuracy of memory retrieval within the group context.

Transactive memory is particularly important in settings where collaboration is key, such as in workplaces or among families, as it allows groups to leverage individual strengths and share cognitive loads. This communal approach to memory supports better decision-making and problem-solving, as individuals do not have to rely solely on their own memory but can draw from the collective knowledge of the group.

In contrast, the other terms do not pertain to this concept of shared memory systems. Groupthink refers to a phenomenon where the desire for harmony in a group results in irrational or dysfunctional decision-making. Availability cascade describes a self-reinforcing cycle where beliefs gain more acceptance as they are repeatedly discussed and spread. Self-serving bias is a cognitive distortion that leads individuals to attribute successes to their own abilities while blaming failures on external factors. None of these concepts captures the idea of a collaborative memory system like transactive memory does.