why is retroactive interference relevant to the post-event misinformation effect? course hero
by Erin Ruecker III
Published 3 years ago
Updated 2 years ago
8 min read
Overview
Methods
In the famous experiment conducted by Loftus, participants were shown video footage of a traffic accident.1After watching the clip, participants were asked a number of questions about what they had observed, much in the same way police officers, accident investigators, and attorneys might question an eyewitness. One of the questions asked was, "How fast were the cars going when th…
Why does the misinformation effect happen, potentially leading to the formation of false memories? There are a few different theories.4 1. Blending of memories: One explanation is that the original information and the misleading information presented after the fact get blended together in the person's memory.5 2. Replacement of memories: Another possibility is that the …
Research has shown that there are several factors that can contribute to the misinformation effect, making it more likely that event happenings will be distorted and lead to false memories.4 1. Discussing the event with other witnesses:Talking to other witnesses following an event can distort a person's original memory.7Their reports might conflict...
What can prevent intervening information and events from altering memories or even creating false memories? Writing down your memory of an important event immediately after it happens is one strategy that might help minimize the effects. Being aware that your memory can be influenced is another helpful and important strategy. While you might have a good memory, und…
Struggles with addressing the misinformation effect
Some argue that there is no way to distinguish a false memory from a real one. This creates a challenge not just when trying to remember a particular event, but also in memory research.9 If there is video footage of the event, reviewing it can help you decide if your memories are real or if they could be false. It may also be beneficial to consider other people's recollections of the even…
The misinformation effect can have a profound impact on our memories, sometimes causing us to believe that false memories are real. Taking the time to write down events after they can occur can help reduce this effect—as long as the events happened as we wrote them down. Anyone can experience the misinformation effect. However, being aware of this can help you be more alert …