Why False Memories Occur

The study of creation of false memories has been a topic of interest since the 1930s when Bartlett (1932) conducted the first experiment on the topic. Though the results of this experiment were never replicated, they contributed greatly to research by distinguishing between reproductive and reconstructive memory (Bartlett 1932 as cited in Roediger & McDermott, 1995). Reproductive memory refers to accurate production of material from memory and is assumed to be associated with remembering simplified materials (e.g., lists). Reconstructive memory emphasizes the active process of filling in missing elements while remembering and is associated with materials rich in meaning (e.g., stories).

In summary, the discussion about the false memory syndrome is far from being complete. False memory syndrome makes it difficult to judge the viability of an event and is very hard to banish from ones memory. A small false creation embeds in the mind for a very long time. Once an individual creates a false memory, it becomes part and parcel of his or her life. Therapeutic sessions should be taken with care so as to reduce false memory implanted to reduce

False memories are an apparent recollection of an event that did not actually occur. The reason why false memories happen are due to the fact that one's brains can only handle so much.There has been several experiment pertaining to the phenomenon, to find how it works.In the next part of the experiment the psychologist showed the participants a word list.False memories are very common and can happen to anyone. On very rare occasions false memories can be harmful to someone and the people around them.False memories are so common that they affect all of a person's memories. False memories can be made more clear by others memories or they could become more distorted. False memories have caused many wrongful convictions. A psychologist

False memory is a term for the event of an individual remembering information or events they were not exposed to. Jerwen and Flores (2013) defined it as the creation of a memory about an event that an individual did not experience. They point out, “although not being able to remember something is a memory problem, ‘remembering’ something that did not happen can be as serious a problem.”

False memory, second to forgetting, is one of the two fundamental types of deformation in episodic memory (Holliday, Brainerd & Reyna, 2010). Simply stated, false memory is the propensity to account normal occurrences as being a fraction of a key experience that in actuality was not an element of that experience (Holliday, Brainerd & Reyna). False memories are something nearly everyone experience. Furthermore, false memory is defined as placed together, constructed representations of mental schemas that are incorrect (Solso, MacLin & MacLin, 2008). Individuals do not intentionally fabricate their memory. However, perceptual and social factors are a few things that a responsible for manipulating memory (Solso, MacLin & MacLin, 2008).

When a person has a fabricated or distorted recollection of an event, they are experiencing a false memory. A false memory is a mental experience that is mistaken for a veridical representation of an event from one’s personal past. (Kendra Cherry) There are two types of false memories: minor and major. A minor false memory can be some as simple as someone thinking they left their keys on the table, but actually left them in the bedroom. A major false memory could be someone believing they have been abducted from aliens. False memories occur frequently and can take control over someone’s life. Therapists have many approaches that they use to try and help one recollect their memory. While trying to help, they may actually worsen the problem. Research supports the salience of false recollections over accurate ones in people, potentially indicating that every person in a given society can fall victim to their effects. Revealing that this theory has more truth than many expect affecting many people within our societies.

Psychologists have diligently studied the human mind for many years and have yet to discover some of the ways that the brain performs simple and complex tasks. Since the knowledge that has been obtained concerning processes of the brain remains a mere fraction compared to what is unknown about cognitive functioning, individuals cannot fully grasp the reasoning behind why the brain performs some of the acts it does. Many people daydream, picture themselves recovering lost items in obscure places, or even create stories repeated so much that individuals begin to believe they may have happened; all three of these examples are forms of creating a false memory. Many psychologists have researched, evaluated, and experimented with false memory, which has lead to the discovery of False Memory Syndrome, a condition in which individuals contract false memories while almost always remaining oblivious to the act of creating a memory that is not factual or concrete (Berger 1). False memory syndrome develops as a result of many different internal and external forces such as mind manipulation in psychological malpractice, severe trauma to the brain in the first few years of life, a traumatic experience, or even by forcing one’s self into believing an entirely made-up thought; however, seemingly healthy individuals can contract the syndrome without the slightest idea it is present.

This article is the study of false memories in aging adults with and without Alzheimer Disease. The study worked with two groups’ twenty four with mild onset of Alzheimer and twenty four that didn’t have mild onset of Alzheimer (p. 9). False memories are a common development that happens as the mind ages. This article wanted to record if Alzheimer disease increases or decrease false memory in adults. The reason for this study is that other studies show that adults with Alzheimer Disease have “slightly lower” false memories (p.9).

The main causes of false memories are sexual abuse, malpractice, or traumatic experiences. The symptoms of these events can cause a person to seep into deep depression, experience sleep problems and anxiety. Most people that have created false memories will not change their minds about the reality they have created, because it is to painful to face the

Some people might argue that getting lost in the mall is too common of an experience to demonstrate false memories. For this argument, Hyman et al. constructed an experiment to show the occurrence of false memories in less that common childhood events including spilling punch at a wedding and a sprinkler system going off a at grocery store. For one variation of this study, Hyman et al. implanted the memory of an overnight hospitalization with a high fever, and possible ear infection. The participants were told they were going to be asked about events from their childhood based on information provided by their parents. They were then given the titles of the events (including the false visit to the hospital) and asked to

There are two prominent distortions of the episodic memory system: forgetting and the false memory effect. False memory is the propensity to report an event as part of an episodic experience that was not actually present (Holliday, Brainerd, & Reyna, 2011). Several theories give an explanation for this effect, but the most prominent one is the fuzzy trace theory,

Have you ever remembered something that you were 100% positive actually happened, when indeed did not happened at all? According to scientists, the occurrence of such false memories is quite common, so you’re not alone. The question of why our brain creates these false memories, has not been answered yet, but is not a fact. This in fact happened to a young boy named Jim. Jim, had a vivid flashbulb memory from his childhood of a day his parents won the lottery. He remembered everything about that day, where he was sitting, and what board game he and his siblings were playing when they heard the news. Recently, Jim discovered that he was completely wrong about what happened that day and none of those things actually happened.

A false memory is a recollection of an event that did not actually occur, or has missing or added details. Memories are our past, so does that mean the past never happened? Are we living lies? Neither are exactly true, but a false memory is most likely rooted from an additional memory.

One of the most studied topics in the field of psychology is False Memory. In general, false memories are recollections of past events and circumstances in which the individual believes that it happened even in reality it didn’t. According to Cherry (2017), it is important to understand False memories because our perception of events which didn’t even happen in the first place could entail an adverse and even life-changing effects in our real lives. While these changes could range from a simple alteration of daily routine, some of them could even lead to fatal and disastrous repercussions especially when unchecked and uncorrected. Following from this, the author of this article believes that it is indeed important to understand the nature and the effects of false memories on our perspective of reality as well as our daily lives. Thus, in succeeding sections, some of these effects would be discussed in more detail. And by the end of this article, the author believes that the reason why False Memories could entail significant changes in our lives, is because memories shape our perception of reality and also the way how we deal with it.

Either way, the objective of McDermott (1996) was to examine the constructive processes that constituted recall and more specifically to discover how and why false memories were created and, more particularly, whether false memories were generated due to repetitious recollection of event and/ or causation of delay.