Memory accuracy Flashcards
What is a false memory?
When we remember something that didn’t actually happen.
Which are the 4 main factors that lead to false memories?
memory schemas, leading questions, post-event discussion, anxiety.
describe how a memory schema may have an impact on memory recall.
schemas are mental frameworks which we form from past experiences.
When we retrieve memories, we use schemas to help reconstruct our memories, and fill in the missing gaps.
Because of this, we could make mistakes . It can cause us to misremember events, in a way that is consistent to our schemas.
what is a leading question?
A question that suggests, or leads us to getting a particular answer.
what is a post-event discussion?
discussion after an event has happened.
when we discuss a past event with other people, the people all have their own interpretations about what happened.
This can lead to us misremembering the event.
describe what effect anxiety would have on memory recall.
The lower the emotionally arousal, the lower the accuracy of memory.
However, when there is a medium level of emotional arousal, memory recall increases by a lot.
when there is a high level of emotional arousal, the memory accuracy also decreases by a lot.
which study investigates the effect of leading questions of eye witness testimony?
Loftus and Palmer.
Which studies investigates the effect of anxiety on eye witness testimony?
- Johnson and Scott ( weapons study).
Guile and Cutshall.
What are the 4 parts to a cognitive interview?
mental reinstatement, change of perspective, change of narrative order, and report everything.
describe mental reinstatement
Asking the witness to discuss their thoughts, feelings and experiences at the time of the event.
-This can help identify internal, and external cues, thus improving overall memory effects.
describe change of perspective.
When witnesses are asked to recall events from another witnesses perspective.
this can reduce the negative effects of of schemas on a persons memory recall, because he now has to thunk from a different persons perspective, with a different schema.
describe change of narrative order.
Asking the witness to remember events in a different chronological order.
because it can help us identify information that might not stick out at first.
describe report everything.
getting witnesses to try and recall absolutely everything.
-not only four on what seems important, but also on random things.
can benefit in 2 ways:
1. certain things may act as cues that help with memory retrieval.
2. some random things, might actually be relevant to the police.
