False Memories: How to Approach Them
Memory, which allows us to connect previous thoughts and information with current events, can be defined as the retention of information over time. The capacity of memory that humans have is incredible, although it sometimes can present with flaws. One of these faults deals with the creation of false memories. Many individuals often believe that memories are stored in our mind through something similar to a video recorder. This would mean that events are recorded with accurate details, clarity, and truthfulness. However, psychologists have found that this is not the case. Rather, memories can become unclear and confusing, with certain aspects being lost, or even created. False memories, then, can be defined as a fabricated or distorted recollection of an event that never actually took place.
Elizabeth Loftus, a famous researcher in memory, has spent much of her time studying false memories along with how they are created, and how impactful they can be. She began her research with studies relating to the "Misinformation Effect." Evidence from these experiments show that when individuals are given deceptive information about some type of event they witnessed or experienced, their memory of that event becomes disfigured. Misinformation can greatly change the way a person recalls specific instances, and it can in turn effect they way they communicate with others. It can take over the memories people have when conversing with those around them, when being questioned by police or in everyday conversation, and even when viewing stories and news in the media today. For example, Loftus conducted a study where participants watched a reproduced car accident involving a stop sign. Afterwards, half of them were given an implication that the sign they saw was actually a yield sign. When
questioned at a later time, those that received the suggestion remembered seeing a yield sign, and those who did not, claimed to have viewed a stop sign. This small, yet influential experiment in itself shows that small, false details can greatly alter one's recollection.
The data that Loftus collected through her studies of misinformation led her to question whether or not new, and completely false memories could be implanted in people's minds. She invented a way to test this theory, which began with twenty four people between the ages of 18 and 53. She asked the parents and
family of these individuals to provide events that truly happened to them as a child, and then combined them into a personalized book. She included three true events, and one false event in this book, the false one being the same for every participant. The false event was that the person was lost in a shopping mall
when they were younger, that they were crying and soon found by an elderly woman, and that the woman reunited them with their family. After reading their booklet, individuals were asked whether the event happened or it didn't, and had two follow-up interviews after this. By the second follow up interview, the amount of participants that believed the false event actually occurred went from zero percent, to twenty five percent. These individuals not only claimed that they did indeed recall the false event happening, but they could also provide details from when it did.
Using her evidence, Loftus made it clear that people can be guided to remember events in a different way, and that they also can be tricked into remembering certain things that never took place. Often times, questioning a person over and over again leads them to believe that any fake memories they may have, are actually true. This occurs constantly in policing, with many innocent individuals admitting to crimes they never took place in. It is obvious now that external suggestions can lead to false memories, and that combining these fake instances with bits of real information makes them even more influential.
The information presented by Loftus may now have you wondering if every memory you've ever had was indeed fake. However, just because her data shows that false memories can be created, doesn't mean that all memories are untrue. One must simply be aware of how artificial facts can impact the memory, and restrain themselves when questioning others or digging through their own recollections.
False memories can be commonly implanted in the minds of children, which is why we have decided to provide this information to you on our site. We recently received a letter from a troubled parent asking us for advice on a very serious topic. The letter soon be listed below, and our suggestions right after that. As you are reading the given incidence, use the data provided by Loftus to think about what you would do as a parent if your child found themselves in a similar situation. Compare your answers to ours and determine any further steps you may want to take.
Elizabeth Loftus, a famous researcher in memory, has spent much of her time studying false memories along with how they are created, and how impactful they can be. She began her research with studies relating to the "Misinformation Effect." Evidence from these experiments show that when individuals are given deceptive information about some type of event they witnessed or experienced, their memory of that event becomes disfigured. Misinformation can greatly change the way a person recalls specific instances, and it can in turn effect they way they communicate with others. It can take over the memories people have when conversing with those around them, when being questioned by police or in everyday conversation, and even when viewing stories and news in the media today. For example, Loftus conducted a study where participants watched a reproduced car accident involving a stop sign. Afterwards, half of them were given an implication that the sign they saw was actually a yield sign. When
questioned at a later time, those that received the suggestion remembered seeing a yield sign, and those who did not, claimed to have viewed a stop sign. This small, yet influential experiment in itself shows that small, false details can greatly alter one's recollection.
The data that Loftus collected through her studies of misinformation led her to question whether or not new, and completely false memories could be implanted in people's minds. She invented a way to test this theory, which began with twenty four people between the ages of 18 and 53. She asked the parents and
family of these individuals to provide events that truly happened to them as a child, and then combined them into a personalized book. She included three true events, and one false event in this book, the false one being the same for every participant. The false event was that the person was lost in a shopping mall
when they were younger, that they were crying and soon found by an elderly woman, and that the woman reunited them with their family. After reading their booklet, individuals were asked whether the event happened or it didn't, and had two follow-up interviews after this. By the second follow up interview, the amount of participants that believed the false event actually occurred went from zero percent, to twenty five percent. These individuals not only claimed that they did indeed recall the false event happening, but they could also provide details from when it did.
Using her evidence, Loftus made it clear that people can be guided to remember events in a different way, and that they also can be tricked into remembering certain things that never took place. Often times, questioning a person over and over again leads them to believe that any fake memories they may have, are actually true. This occurs constantly in policing, with many innocent individuals admitting to crimes they never took place in. It is obvious now that external suggestions can lead to false memories, and that combining these fake instances with bits of real information makes them even more influential.
The information presented by Loftus may now have you wondering if every memory you've ever had was indeed fake. However, just because her data shows that false memories can be created, doesn't mean that all memories are untrue. One must simply be aware of how artificial facts can impact the memory, and restrain themselves when questioning others or digging through their own recollections.
False memories can be commonly implanted in the minds of children, which is why we have decided to provide this information to you on our site. We recently received a letter from a troubled parent asking us for advice on a very serious topic. The letter soon be listed below, and our suggestions right after that. As you are reading the given incidence, use the data provided by Loftus to think about what you would do as a parent if your child found themselves in a similar situation. Compare your answers to ours and determine any further steps you may want to take.
The Scenario
My 4-year old daughter, Cheryl, came running home one afternoon, sobbing uncontrollably. She told me that Mr. Johnson, our neighbor and long-time friend, had taken down her pants and touched her "private parts." I was in such shock, I had always thought that Mr. Johnson was an honest, and decent man. It was because of this, that I wondered if Cheryl's imagination had simply run wild and gotten the best of her. Yet, I think back and I can remember Mr. Johnson sometimes being peculiar, so she may be telling the truth. Please help me, I do not know how to handle this situation and am simply distraught at the idea of this all being real.
My 4-year old daughter, Cheryl, came running home one afternoon, sobbing uncontrollably. She told me that Mr. Johnson, our neighbor and long-time friend, had taken down her pants and touched her "private parts." I was in such shock, I had always thought that Mr. Johnson was an honest, and decent man. It was because of this, that I wondered if Cheryl's imagination had simply run wild and gotten the best of her. Yet, I think back and I can remember Mr. Johnson sometimes being peculiar, so she may be telling the truth. Please help me, I do not know how to handle this situation and am simply distraught at the idea of this all being real.
What do you do if you suspect your child is being sexually assaulted? What if you are afraid of creating false memories in their mind? What if your child has an active imagination? We believe there are three steps a parent can do in order to make sure that the child feels safe: talking to your child in a calm manner about the incident, not confronting the accused individual at any point, and believing that what your child is saying is the absolute truth.
The first thing to do is to calmly but firmly ask your child what happened. It is understandable that as a parent you will immediately want to repeatedly question the child, demanding answers and the truth of the event. However, this is not the appropriate way to respond, as hard as it may be to do otherwise. Constantly questioning the child leaves room for false memories to form, which in turn provides you with the wrong information. When questioned over and over for extended periods of time, or when asked to imagine what actually happened, a child has the ability to create a memory about that scenario that they believe to be one hundred percent factual. They do this as a response to being asked about details continually, why leads them to second guessing themselves. As a parent, you should respond to your child in a relaxed manner so as not to frighten them. Write down exactly what the child says so you
have a record of the situation at hand. Try to extract as many elements of the event as possible, without overwhelming them with a swarm of questions.
Secondly, never confront the accused in a situation like this. This may create a dangerous situation for both you and your child. After you have written down your child's statement, contact the police and inform them about what is going on. By leaving the incident to the authorities, this method is far safer than engaging in direct contact with the accused. They may attempt to flee from the scene, use physical
violence towards the you or the child, and could lie and say that they did not do anything wrong. One does not want to make things worse than they already are, especially if the accused is truly guilty of such accusations. Once you get the police involved, give them the information you previously wrote down from your child. They should then bring in professionals who are trained to confront children in similar situations, and who will be much better at handling it. They may do a physical examination of the child to check for any bruising or fluids that the accused may have left, and this is nothing to be alarmed of. Involving the police is the safest and most accurate way to handle this situation, and they will help direct you to your truthful answers.
Lastly, it is extremely crucial to always believe that what your child is saying is true. These accusations are too serious to ignore, and if they are true they must be taken care of immediately. You do not want to simply write off your child's experience as a "vivid imagination," when it could be something much more. Take what your child is saying seriously, and never let them know that you do not believe them. The worst thing one could ever do is not take action when they are told that their child suffered a situation such as Cheryl. The child must feel as if they have someone on their side, standing up for them at all times. If this does not take place, this could be detrimental to their mental development, leaving them feeling detached and unwanted. The experience could be very traumatic, so the child needs someone to be there for them, especially when they do not understand what is happening.
Cherry, Kendra. "What Is a False Memory?" About Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2013.
Loftus, Elizabeth F. "Creating False Memories." Scientific American 277.3 (1997): 70-75. University
of Washington. Web. 12 Oct. 2013.
The first thing to do is to calmly but firmly ask your child what happened. It is understandable that as a parent you will immediately want to repeatedly question the child, demanding answers and the truth of the event. However, this is not the appropriate way to respond, as hard as it may be to do otherwise. Constantly questioning the child leaves room for false memories to form, which in turn provides you with the wrong information. When questioned over and over for extended periods of time, or when asked to imagine what actually happened, a child has the ability to create a memory about that scenario that they believe to be one hundred percent factual. They do this as a response to being asked about details continually, why leads them to second guessing themselves. As a parent, you should respond to your child in a relaxed manner so as not to frighten them. Write down exactly what the child says so you
have a record of the situation at hand. Try to extract as many elements of the event as possible, without overwhelming them with a swarm of questions.
Secondly, never confront the accused in a situation like this. This may create a dangerous situation for both you and your child. After you have written down your child's statement, contact the police and inform them about what is going on. By leaving the incident to the authorities, this method is far safer than engaging in direct contact with the accused. They may attempt to flee from the scene, use physical
violence towards the you or the child, and could lie and say that they did not do anything wrong. One does not want to make things worse than they already are, especially if the accused is truly guilty of such accusations. Once you get the police involved, give them the information you previously wrote down from your child. They should then bring in professionals who are trained to confront children in similar situations, and who will be much better at handling it. They may do a physical examination of the child to check for any bruising or fluids that the accused may have left, and this is nothing to be alarmed of. Involving the police is the safest and most accurate way to handle this situation, and they will help direct you to your truthful answers.
Lastly, it is extremely crucial to always believe that what your child is saying is true. These accusations are too serious to ignore, and if they are true they must be taken care of immediately. You do not want to simply write off your child's experience as a "vivid imagination," when it could be something much more. Take what your child is saying seriously, and never let them know that you do not believe them. The worst thing one could ever do is not take action when they are told that their child suffered a situation such as Cheryl. The child must feel as if they have someone on their side, standing up for them at all times. If this does not take place, this could be detrimental to their mental development, leaving them feeling detached and unwanted. The experience could be very traumatic, so the child needs someone to be there for them, especially when they do not understand what is happening.
Cherry, Kendra. "What Is a False Memory?" About Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2013.
Loftus, Elizabeth F. "Creating False Memories." Scientific American 277.3 (1997): 70-75. University
of Washington. Web. 12 Oct. 2013.
