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T/F: confidence in memory has a positive correlation with accuracy

User Ariaby
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Final answer:

It is false that confidence in memory has a positive correlation with accuracy. Extensive research by Elizabeth Loftus has demonstrated that human memory is prone to errors and can be influenced by misinformation, leading to false memories.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks whether there is a positive correlation between confidence in memory and the accuracy of that memory. The statement is False. Confidence in one's memory does not reliably indicate that the memory is accurate. Cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus has extensively studied this phenomenon and found that human memory is prone to errors. These errors can arise during memory reconstruction, where different aspects of a memory, such as time, visual elements, and smells, are pieced together, creating opportunities for inaccuracies. The concept of flashbulb memory illustrates that even very vivid and detailed memories can prove to be unreliable over time.

Moreover, the misinformation effect, developed by Loftus, shows that our memories can be altered by incorrect information introduced after the event. This often leads to the creation of false memories—instances where individuals recall events or details that never actually occurred. Therefore, the belief that there are health benefits to a variable simply because it is positively correlated is incorrect; correlation does not imply causation, nor does it ensure truthfulness.

User Mathan Kumar
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