Remembering What Didn’t Happen

1. Remembering What Didn’t Happen

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

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

8. 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