False Memories Research Paper
False memories are defined as distorted recollections of an event or events which never occurred, and may be due to the incorporation of new information. The occurrence of false memories depends on different factors such as emotion, visual stimuli, aging, and even a person’s seemingly harmless suggestions. How can false memories be reduced in childhood or adulthood? Can we actually use photographs to minimize false memories, or can emotions have an impact on our likelihood of retaining false memories despite treatment? This subject has been explored in various research studies and cases, including the studies done on the effect of photographs or negative emotions on a person’s memory.
One study investigated the effect of photographs on children’s memories for events that may or may not have …show more content…
2008). In this study, their findings highlight the potential problem with the use of photographs as tools in therapy especially for children. The researchers implied that, in the absence of any accompanying narrative, photos were just as effective at inducing false memories (Strange et al. 2008). Based on the data collected by their experiments, they also found that the children were able to express their confidence equally whether or not the event was true or false, to adults serving as raters, who could not even detect any difference between the quality of both children’s true and false event (Strange et al. 2008). The study introduced an argument against using photographs in reducing false memories, for they proposed that children could actually be succumbed to the idea that, if suggested, they had a traumatic memory and that even adults would not be able to tell that it is due to false
One study investigated the effect of photographs on children’s memories for events that may or may not have …show more content…
2008). In this study, their findings highlight the potential problem with the use of photographs as tools in therapy especially for children. The researchers implied that, in the absence of any accompanying narrative, photos were just as effective at inducing false memories (Strange et al. 2008). Based on the data collected by their experiments, they also found that the children were able to express their confidence equally whether or not the event was true or false, to adults serving as raters, who could not even detect any difference between the quality of both children’s true and false event (Strange et al. 2008). The study introduced an argument against using photographs in reducing false memories, for they proposed that children could actually be succumbed to the idea that, if suggested, they had a traumatic memory and that even adults would not be able to tell that it is due to false