False Memories in AP Psychology

Definition

False memories are inaccurate or distorted recollections of events that did not actually occur. These can be created through suggestion, leading questions, or other external influences.

Related terms

Misinformation Effect:

This refers to how exposure to misleading information after an event can affect one's memory of that event.

Source Monitoring Error: It occurs when a person is unable to accurately attribute the source of a memory, leading them to mistakenly believe something happened when it didn't.

Eyewitness Testimony:

This term refers to the firsthand account given by an individual who has witnessed a crime or event and is later asked to recall those details during legal proceedings.