Remembering What Didn’t Happen

Thesis It is possible to remember things that didn’t happen – or to remember things differently from how they happened – even when we are sure that our memory is accurate.

Some Background on Memory Information from the environment must be encoded into memory; this requires attention There are several types of long-term memory – Declarative memory refers to memory of which you are aware – Implicit memory refers to memory of which you are not aware, but which may affect behavior

Some Background on Memory Numerous factors affect whether information in working memory will be consolidated into long-term memory Memory retrieval is subject to interference

Retrieval is Reconstructive Memory is affected by prior knowledge, beliefs, and assumptions Systematic biases in recall: – Egocentric bias – Consistency bias

Retrieval is Reconstructive Memory for gist, not details – False memory for words – False memory for inferences Memory is affected by post-event information False memories can be created by suggestion

Does it Matter? How reliable is eyewitness identification of a perpetrator?eyewitness identification Individuals have been convicted and sent to jail based on faulty eyewitness identificationsfaulty eyewitness identifications

What Can We Do About it? Recognize that human memory is not well suited for some things we expect of it Insist on converging evidence for claims Separate our assessments of confidence and accuracy Use procedures that minimize post-event information and suggestion, such as double- blind procedures for lineups