7.28 : False Memories

False memories represent a cognitive distortion in which individuals recall events that did not happen, or remember them in an altered form. This phenomenon highlights the brain's constructive nature in processing and recalling memories, emphasizing that memory is not a perfect representation of past events but rather a dynamic reconstruction influenced by various factors.

One primary source of false memories is misattribution, where individuals incorrectly associate external information with personal experiences. This can occur when elements from media or stories blend into one's memory, creating false recollections. For instance, a war veteran might misattribute a scene from a movie as a personal wartime experience.

The misinformation effect is another key contributor to false memories, occurring when post-event information alters a person's recollection of the original event. Research has shown that subtle changes in the wording of questions can influence memory reconstruction. A well-known study on this effect involved participants who watched a car accident video. When asked if the cars "smashed" into each other, participants were more likely to falsely remember seeing broken glass than those asked if the cars "hit" each other.

False memories can also be created in therapeutic settings. Specific therapeutic techniques, such as hypnosis or guided imagery, have been criticized for fostering false memories, especially in cases of recovered memories of trauma. Studies have shown that suggestive questioning and repeated exposure to these techniques can lead individuals to believe in events which never occurred.

The implications of false memories are far-reaching, particularly in legal cases involving eyewitness testimony or accusations of abuse. Recognizing the fallibility of memory is essential in preventing miscarriages of justice and understanding the limits of human cognition.