Question

What do false memories imply about human memory in general?

a) that memory can be simplified to a storage and retrieval model, rather than a reconstructive process
b) that we are unable to identify a fake experience from a real one, but only if they have the same amount of detail
c) that we can always identify a fake experience from a real one if they have the same amount of detail
d) that memory is a reconstructive process, rather than simple storage and retrieval

Answer 1

False memories demonstrate that human memory is reconstructive, with each recall potentially modifying the memory. This reconstructive nature makes memories susceptible to errors and alterations, particularly through the power of suggestion or introduction of inaccurate information.

Step-by-step explanation:

False memories imply about human memory that it is a reconstructive process, rather than simple storage and retrieval (option d). This concept is illustrated by research showing that components of memories, like visual details and smells, are stored in different areas and are reconstructed each time we remember an event.

Memory reconstruction can lead to errors, as when research participants recalled hearing a word that was not actually presented to them.

Memory construction refers to the formation of new memories, and memory reconstruction is bringing up old ones, which can often be modified or altered in the process. The susceptibility of memory to the power of suggestion and alterations during recall demonstrates the fragile nature of reconstructive memory.

Cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus's work on the misinformation effect paradigm and false memory syndrome highlights these concepts further, showing that the mere suggestion or introduction of inaccurate information can lead to altered recollections of past events.