(7) False memories - Lost in a shopping mall - Elizabeth Loftus

Introduction to False Memories

• Concept of false memories discussed in psychological research.

• Chris participates in a memory experiment involving real and fabricated events.

Memory Creation Process

• Family members documented true experiences shared with Chris.

• A false event was introduced: getting lost in a shopping mall at age five.

• By reading the journal, Chris unknowingly absorbed the false memory.

Recollection of False Memories

• Chris recounts his experience of getting lost:

  • Describes feelings of fear and distress.

  • Details included:

    • "I was crying... I thought I'd never see my family again."

    • "I knew I was in real trouble."

  • Memory of surroundings:

    • Remembers the shopping mall being large with big stores.

    • Vividly recalls an encounter with an older man:

      • "He was tall... in a flannel shirt."

  • Adds a recollection of his mother's warning:

    • "My mom told me never to do that again."

The Reality of Chris's Memory

• Key points of clarification concerning Chris's memories:

  • No such man existed in reality.

  • Flannel shirt is a constructed element of the false memory.

  • Mother’s admonishment was part of the false narrative, not an actual event.

Psychological Research Ethics

• Deception's role in psychological research is controversial:

  • Sometimes necessary for studying memory and cognition.

• Research team conducted proper debriefing procedure:

  • Aim to mitigate distress caused by implanting false memories.

  • Emphasis on clarifying the nature of the study post-participation.

Nature of Memory

• Three essential characteristics of memory identified:

  • Suggestive: Memory can be influenced by external suggestions and contexts.

  • Subjective: Personal experiences and perceptions shape recollection.

  • Malleable: Memories can change over time or be altered through suggestion.