Final answer:
An example of a false memory is believing you had lunch with a friend when you did not. False memories demonstrate the reconstructive nature of memory and its susceptibility to errors and external influences. Researchers like Elizabeth Loftus have studied false memories extensively, illustrating the malleable aspect of human memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of a false memory would be c. Believing you had lunch with a friend who you did not. This is because a false memory involves recalling an event that did not actually occur. False memories can range from minor inaccuracies to substantial distortions, where complete events that never happened are vividly remembered. The phenomenon of false memory is a testament to the reconstructive nature of human memory, which involves piecing together various elements of an experience that are stored in different parts of the brain. This reconstruction process is susceptible to errors, influenced by suggestions, leading questions, or other misinformation, as discussed by researchers like Elizabeth Loftus with the misinformation effect paradigm. It's important to understand that memory is not an accurate recording of past events but rather a complex cognitive process that is prone to various forms of distortion, such as the creation of false memories. These distortions can arise naturally over time or can be induced through suggestion and misleading information. Cognitive psychologist Daniel Schacter outlines these distortions as part of the 'seven sins of memory', with false memory syndrome being a relevant example related to recall of events that never actually took place.