Question

Rob has a very vivid memory of a bad traffic accident that occurred near his home when he was a child. His mother, however. claims that Rob couldn't have witnessed the incident because he was in bed, asleep, when it occurred, and he had learned about the accident from television news reports. Rob's false memory is probably the result of: a. retrieval cue failure c. flashbulb interference b. repression d. source confusion

Short answer

d. Source confusion

Step-by-step solution

Analyze the scenario and given options.

Read the description carefully and understand the context of the question. Identify and examine the possible explanations for Rob's false memory: retrieval cue failure, flashbulb interference, repression, and source confusion. Step 2: Eliminate options that don't fit the scenario.

Eliminate options that don't fit the scenario.

From the given context, rule out repression and flashbulb interference because they do not align with the situation described. We can also rule out retrieval cue failure, as Rob has a vivid memory of the event, not an issue with recalling it. Step 3: Identify the most plausible option.

Identify the most plausible option.

After ruling out the other options, the remaining choice is source confusion. Rob could have confused the source of his memory (from the television) as being an eyewitness to the event. This is the most likely cause of his false memory. Answer: d. Source confusion

Key concepts

False Memory

A false memory refers to a recollection of something that did not actually happen. This mistaken memory might feel just as vivid and real as a genuine experience, which makes it a fascinating topic in psychology. False memories can develop due to several factors. Here are some:

• **Misleading Information:** After an event, if people receive incorrect details, their memory of the event might change.
• **Misinformation Effect:** Incorporating misleading or incorrect information into an existing memory can create false memories.
• **Imagination Inflation:** When people repeatedly imagine an event, especially if it’s a plausible one, they might start believing it happened.

False memories can have serious implications, especially when considering legal situations where eyewitness testimonies play a crucial role. Understanding how these false memories form can help psychologists devise better ways to deal with them.

Memory Distortion

Memory distortion occurs when what you remember is different from the actual events. This distortion happens for numerous reasons and can affect anyone's perception of past events. Reasons for memory distortion include:

• **Time Passage:** As time progresses, specific details may fade, leading to a more general gist of the event being remembered.
• **External Influences:** Information from others can alter how an event is remembered.
• **Cognitive Biases:** Personal beliefs and expectations can reshape memories to fit a certain narrative.

It's important to remember memory is not like a video recorder. Instead, it's mutable and influenced by a range of cognitive and external factors. Knowing about memory distortion can be beneficial in understanding how our brains reconstruct past events.

Vivid Memory

Some memories are incredibly detailed and feel almost alive. These are known as vivid memories. People often associate vivid memories with significant or emotionally charged events. Gigantic like beacons in the mind, these memories seem strong and untouchable. Characteristics of vivid memories include:

• **Detail Oriented:** They often include specifics, such as colors, sounds, or smells.
• **Emotionally Charged:** Strong emotional ties can make a memory stand out more.
• **Long Lasting:** These memories tend to stay with a person for many years, sometimes even a lifetime.

Vivid memories can be both a blessing and a curse. While they can provide comfort and nostalgia, they can also be prone to the same distortions as other memories. Even the most vivid memory can contain inaccuracies.

Eyewitness Memory

The reliability of eyewitness memory is often questioned, especially in legal contexts. While eyewitness testimonies can be powerful, they are susceptible to error. This kind of memory can be influenced by a variety of factors, such as:

• **Stress and Anxiety:** High-stress situations can impair the accuracy of memory encoding.
• **Suggestive Questioning:** How questions are presented can influence an eyewitness's recall of an event.
• **Cross-Race Effect:** People may be less accurate when identifying individuals of a different race or ethnicity.

These factors highlight the nature of eyewitness memory as being both important and highly fallible. Recognizing the potential for mistakes can aid in interpreting these memories more accurately in critical scenarios such as criminal justice.