Repressed Memories or False Memories?
Author: Ronald J. Comer
Princeton University
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This video demonstrates an experiment into the nature of memory, and shows how false memories can be introduced into a normal person’s recollection. In the experiment shown in the video, subjects are shown and questioned about photographs from their childhood, including one photograph doctored to show an event (a hot air balloon ride) the subject never really experienced. After a week, half of the subjects actually believe that they can recall the experience of the hot air balloon ride. This video shows how subjective and often unreliable memory can be, and how easily it can be manipulated. The video features a research follow-up to the work of Elizabeth Loftus, and includes work by Maryanne Garry and Kimberley Wade.
1. During the study shown in the video, ____________ of the subjects eventually believe that they had been on a hot air balloon ride, even though they had not.
2. The main conclusion drawn from the experiment in the video is that ____________.
3. Studies have shown that when describing memories of their experiences of very significant events, such as the 9/11 attacks or the space shuttle Challenger explosion, people usually _____________.
4. How do the results of studies like the one shown in the video affect the controversy over "repressed memories"?
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