Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
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.
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.
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.