PSYC 513/703 Lecture Notes

Flashcards about False Memories, Autobiographical Memory and Recollection Errors

Familiarity (in episodic memory)

Feeling of recognition without specific details.

Recollection (in episodic memory)

Recall of specific episodic details or associations.

Deja vu

Feeling that you've done or experienced something before.

Autobiographical Memory

Remembering events from your past or anticipating your future through mental time travel.

Nickerson & Adams (1979) US Penny Study

Accuracy of recollection is often worse than we think; in a study, only 1 in 6 could identify the correct version of a US penny.

Recollection as Reconstruction

Recollection is not simply retrieval; it is an active process of piecing together fragmented memories and filling in missing information.

False Recollection

An inaccurate reconstruction of a past event.

Source Monitoring Error

Mistake or confusion about the context, place, time, etc., of a memory.

Source Monitoring

Placing a memory in its proper context.

Post-Event Information

Information encountered after an event that can influence or distort memory for that event.

Influence of Beliefs and Stereotypes on Memory

Stereotypes, beliefs, and expectations can lead to false elaboration or recollection of false details in past events.

Ganske & Helb (2001) Study

When first person heard the story, they retold it to the 2nd, who retold it to the 3rd. The recall by the 3rd person showed that 54% had false recall of female-stereotypic actions in Sylvia's story; 44% had false recall of male-stereotypic actions in John's story.

Sherman & Bessenoff (1999) Study

Behaviours consistent with a stereotype of a source are more likely to be misattributed to that source.

Kleider, Pezdek, Goldinger, Kirk (2008) Study

Behaviours inconsistent with a stereotype of a source are more likely to be forgotten with that source.

Snyder & Uranowitz (1978) Study

Depending on label, selectively remembered (or misremembered) details consistent with stereotypes.

Role of Sensory Details in Autobiographical Memories

Realistic imagery and details provide more ‘evidence’ of the past than a mere feeling of familiarity.

Wade, Garry, Read, Lindsay (2002) Balloon Ride Study

Study about childhood reminiscence 'tell me everything you can remember'. During interviews, used guided imagery to help remember. False recollection increased over time.

Creation of False Memories

Imagined or suggested events can take on the qualities of real memories through elaboration and repetition.

Nash, Wade, Lindsay (2009) Doctored Video Study

False memories can be created for personal, recent events.

Bernstein, Laney, Morris, Loftus (2005) Strawberry Ice Cream Study

False feedback group was more likely to increase confidence that this event occurred. Participants who increased belief in the false feedback rated lower preference for strawberry ice cream.