Reconstructive Memory and

False Memory
With reference to relevant
research studies, to what extent is
one cognitive process reliable?
 Command Term
• To what extent – • Present the strong
consider the merits or points of the reliability
otherwise of an of reconstructive
argument or concept. memory. Do this by
Opinions and making your ideas
conclusions should be clearly
presented clearly and obvious/known. Then
supported with support your thoughts
appropriate and with evidence.
sound evidence.
 Related Research
• Loftus, E. & Palmer, J. (1974).
Reconstruction of Automobile Destruction.
Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal
Behaviour. 13, 585-589
• Yuille and Cutshall (1986) Effectiveness of
eyewitness testimony using real
eyewitnesses
• OR any of Schema Studies
 Theory
• Interpretation plays a major role in
remembering stories and past events.
• Reconstructive/False memory theory is based
on Bartlett’s schema theory.
• Effort after meaning – trying to make the past
more logical, coherent and generally sensible.
• Unlike the computer’s memory where the output
exactly matches the input, human memory is an
imaginative reconstruction of experience.
 False Memory for Related
Information
• Perception and • This is an example of how
comprehension of ongoing we remember information
events always brings
related information to mind. related to our ongoing
• For example, you briefly perception and
see a friend at a movie and, comprehension, even
among other things, you though the events
think about her boyfriend. represented by that
Unless there is some
reason for you to determine information never occurred.
if her boyfriend is at the
movie with her, you later
may remember seeing the
boyfriend at the movie
when in fact he was not
there.
 Intervening Events and Distorted
Memory
• Prof Elizabeth Loftus has conducted research into
memory and eye-witness testimony.
• What processes go on from the original experience
to retrieving the original experience?
• Acquisition: poor viewing conditions, focus on
weapons, effects of expectations.
• Storage: Misleading questions, source monitoring
errors.
• Retrieval: “best guess” problem in lineup
identification.
 Race
• Errors are more likely
to occur when the
suspect and witness
are racially different.
We are much better
at recognising
members of our own
racial groups than
member of other
racial groups.
 Clothing
• Witnesses pay more
attention to a
suspect’s clothing
than to more stable
characteristics such
as height and facial
features.
 Social Influence
• One source of social
influence is contact
and exchange of
information among
witnesses.
• In pairs, the second
person to respond
were influenced by
the first persons
response.
 Misleading Questions
• Leading questions. It
appears
reconstruction errors
in recall are present
when presented with
misleading
information. Hit, crash
or smash.
 Violence
• Does extreme emotion
brand the experience
indelibly on the victims
memory or does it reduce
the capacity for
recollection?
• Overall memory for
violent events is stronger
than neutral but
recollection of detail is
poorer. Weapon Focus
 Suggestibility and Source
Misattribution
• Loftus studies show that witnesses may come to
believe that they actually remember seeing
items in an event that in fact have been
(FALSELY) suggested to them.
• Witnesses are confusing information obtained
outside the context of the witnessed event itself
(post-event information).
• Also, memories of details from various sources
can be combined with memories of that event
(memory blending).