What term refers to the combined memory of a group that is more efficient than that of its individual members?

Transactive memory refers to the way in which groups collectively encode, store, and retrieve information, allowing their collective memory to surpass that of any single individual member. In a transactive memory system, members specialize in different areas of knowledge and rely on one another to access information that resides in the group, which can lead to more effective and efficient problem-solving than if individuals were working alone.

This concept highlights the dynamics of shared knowledge among group members, where individuals understand not only their own strengths but also those of others, leveraging these to enhance group performance. This makes transactive memory a crucial concept in social psychology, particularly when examining how teamwork and collaboration can lead to superior outcomes compared to solo efforts.

Groupthink and group polarization pertain more to decision-making processes and the influence of group dynamics on attitudes, often leading to suboptimal decisions or reinforced extremes. Process loss refers to the potential pitfalls in group performance, such as coordination issues or social loafing, which detract from collective efficiency. None of these terms capture the essence of a group's enhanced memory capabilities as effectively as transactive memory does.