Final answer:
The misinformation effect, as studied by Loftus and Palmer, is a phenomenon where a person's memory of an event can be distorted by misleading information introduced after the event. Their experiments showed that subtle language changes could make participants remember details, like the speed of cars or the presence of broken glass, that were not accurate. This effect has important implications for the credibility of eyewitness testimony and the processes used in recovering memories through therapy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The misinformation effect by Elizabeth Loftus and John Palmer explores how eyewitness memory can be influenced by misleading information presented after the original event. The classic study conducted by Loftus and Palmer in 1974 demonstrated that the use of different verbs in questions could cause participants to estimate the speed of cars in a filmed accident differently. This was an example of the power of suggestion on memory recall.
Moreover, participants who heard the word "smashed" were more likely to falsely recall seeing broken glass that wasn't present in the film. The misinformation effect not only highlights suggestibility in human memory but also raises questions about the reliability of eyewitness testimony in legal contexts.
Loftus' research has also extended to the skepticism about recovered memories of traumatic events, such as childhood sexual abuse, through therapy, considering that even slight therapist suggestions can produce false memories akin to the misinformation effect. This highlights the necessity for caution when recovering memories through therapeutic techniques to avoid implanted memories.