False Memory In Psychology: Examples & More

Key Takeaways

• False memory is a psychological phenomenon whereby an individual recalls an actual occurrence substantially differently from how it transpired or an event that never even happened.
• Interference, leading questions, obsessive-compulsive disorder, false memory syndrome, and sleep deprivation can cause false memories.
• Pioneered by the work of Sigmund Freud and Pierre Janet, research on false memory has immensely benefitted from the contributions of the American cognitive psychologist Elizabeth F. Lotus.
• False memory has manifold real-world implications ranging from false convictions in court proceedings to accidental manslaughter.