Chapter 4: Memory and Its Reliability

These flashcards cover the concepts of memory reliability, the placebo effect, bias in memory, and the implications of memory distortion in various contexts.

Memory Reconstruction

The process by which the brain stores fragments of an event and reconstructs it during recall.

Placebo Effect

The phenomenon where a person's expectations influence the results of a treatment or intervention.

Regression to Mean

The tendency for variables to return to their average levels after extreme behaviors or events.

Own-Race Bias

The tendency for people to more easily recognize and identify faces of their own race compared to those of other races.

Mandela Effect

A phenomenon where a large group of people remember an event or detail differently from how it occurred.

Memory Selectivity

The tendency to remember certain aspects of experiences while forgetting others, often influenced by what is deemed more memorable.

Evidence-Based Memory

The approach of reevaluating memories when they contradict current evidence, highlighting the unreliability of personal recollections.

Eyewitness Testimony

The account given by people of an event they have witnessed, which can be unreliable due to memory issues.