Psychological

Q1

Gaps in memory, which are common, may be filled in by logic, guessing, or new information (Schacter, 2012). The result is often the storage of new long-term memories as older memories might be revised or even lost (Baddeley, Eysenck, & Anderson, 2009). What we remember depends on what we pay attention to, what we regard as meaningful or important, how we elaborate our memory, and what we feel strongly about. After reading Chapter 7, consider the concept of false memories.

1.    Define false memories.

2.    Discuss the research on false memories.

3.    After watching the Elizabeth Loftis TedTalks video  how has your opinion of memory changed?

Answer: 

1. False memories are memories that a person recalls as true, but are actually a combination of real events, imagined events, and/or suggestions from others. These false memories can be the result of misunderstandings, poor encoding of events, or the influence of suggestions from others.
2. Research on false memories has shown that they can be easily induced in the laboratory through various methods such as the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm and the misinformation effect. Studies have also found that false memories can have a lasting impact and can affect a person’s beliefs, decisions, and behaviors.
3. The Elizabeth Loftis TedTalks video provides a comprehensive overview of the research on false memories and highlights the ease with which they can be created. This video highlights the limitations and fallibility of memory and the importance of being mindful of the sources of our memories and the potential for them to be distorted. After watching the video, my opinion of memory has changed to one that recognizes memory as a complex and fallible process that can be influenced by various factors.