False Memories

Creation of False Memories

Contrary to popular belief regarding the nature of memory, the creation of false memories is relatively simple. Studies by Elizabeth Loftus show that when asking questions, the accuracy of the answer and the resulting memory of the event can be strongly affected by the wording of the question. Changing as little as one word in a question can significantly alter the recall of events. Even changing the presupposition of the statement can create false memories. For example, when asking participants that had just watched a traffic video containing no stop sign, “Did you pass a stop sign,” versus “Did you pass the stop sign?” memories varied. The participant who receives the question containing the word the is more likely to recall passing the stop sign. Additionally, [Page 364]as time passes, the false memory became stronger and the participant became more confident that there was a stop sign. This occurs because the question implies a correct answer—that there was a stop sign.

Loftus's experiments have also shown that beyond the influence of question wording on memory, completely fabricated memories can be constructed through questioning and suggestion. These experiments start with an event that is known to not have happened and then present that event to the participant as if it were fact, such as a childhood memory. Examples of these implanted memories include having being lost in a shopping mall, being attacked by a wild animal, riding in a hot air balloon, or meeting Bugs Bunny at Disneyland. The participant not only believes that the event occurred, but as time goes on, vividly remembers the event in specific but inaccurate details. Although the events were presented as having happened, participants were never lost in a shopping mall, mauled by an animal, in a hot air balloon as a child, and did not meet Bugs Bunny at Disneyland. Regardless, once they had been convinced that their relatives remembered this happening to them, they would suddenly remember the events and fill in the details.

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