Running head: MEMORY
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Memory and Manipulation
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
MEMORY
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Memory and Manipulation
Memory and perception is always an integral part of one’s identity, but the case can be
made that how they can be misleading for the people at times and how they tend to react to
different situations. Despite this fact, the memory can have false images and is highly perceptive,
and when criminal investigation is supposed to be done, it has to be something absolute. In that
respect, the memory manipulation can make or break the prospect of the case.
Discussion
Looking at some of the arguments that are being made by Loftus, she brings into fore the
idea that how the perception and the memory tend to play a role during the course of such
investigations. One of the things that tends to stand out is that how there is always an increase
margin of error due to which the memory manipulation might not be as accurate assessor when
the identity determination cases are needed to be done (Stone, 2021). There are racial and ethnic
elements as well due to which at times memory cannot be reliable. Especially when
identification and remembering people of the other races can be a tricky prospect (Stone, 2021).
One’s brain tends to work in the manner that they tend to not be able to differentiate some of the
more distinct features and thus it makes the cases of identification all the more tricky. In the
recent years, the case of mistaken identity has been a big question mark and one of the reasons is
that how eye witnesses are being used for the purpose of testimony (Stone, 2021). The case of
Titus as well as Jenifer and Rolland tends to show that how there is a need to adopt a better
approach.
MEMORY
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Conclusion
In the hindsight, there is a need to develop greater insight with respect to the way
memory tends to work. The limitations of the human memory and the way it can be manipulated
tends to create problems during the legal process.
MEMORY
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Reference
Stone, K. R. (2021). The Effects of Misinformation, Intent to Remember, and Aging on Event
Memory (Doctoral dissertation, University of Florida).
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Thread:
Post:
Author:
False Memory Syndrome
False Memory Syndrome
Deborah Painter Petrella
Posted Date:
Edited Date:
Status:
February 26, 2022 11:35 PM
February 26, 2022 11:45 PM
Published
False Memory Syndrome
We know episodic memory is used in eyewitness testimony. We can define it as something we personally
have experienced. It involves recollection of visual imagery as well. We also know the memory can be
inaccurate at times. Various parts of them like smell, visual and time are stored in separate places. When
trying to reconstruct a memory each part has a chance to make an error and create a false memory (Roedig
& McDermott, 2000).
Visual recollection of the event is sometimes exceedingly difficult. Often there are only seconds to see the
crucial details as they are happening. The memory is not always accurate when recollecting what occurred
during the event. Other factors such as being tired, distracted, scared, or under the influence of alcohol or
drugs can affect what we remember. Sometimes bias can affect our memory. The media can distort our
memories of an event with inaccurate or biased coverage. Hearing or seeing the media reporting other
witnesses’ accounts of what happened sometimes influences what we may think we remember.
Dr. Elizabeth Loftus proved with her studies that our stored memories can become faulty when false
memories are introduced. She concluded that the sexual abuse of Jane Doe never occurred and the
memories over the decades were false. Jane Doe sued Dr. Loftus and co-author for violation of her privacy.
After several years Dr. Loftus and co-author were cleared of any wrongdoing. Dr. Loftus proved that memory
is not only unreliable, but it can also be manipulated to render useless evidence in criminal cases.
In some cases where suggestions by police officer can lead witnesses to identify the wrong person. (Wells
and Quinlivan 2009) assert its suggestive police identification procedures by stacking the line up to make the
defendant standout or confirming the witness’ choice by telling them “Good choice” or “You picked the guy”.
In conclusion: What can we do to make change in how our media reports does not report the correct facts
without bias? What can be done to prevent wrongful incarceration of innocent people?
Spielman, R., Jenkins, W., & Lovett, M. (2020) Psychology 2e
Abramsky, S. (2004). Memory and Manipulation: https://www.laweekly.com/memory-and-manipulation/
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Thread:
Post:
Author:
Memory and Manipulation
Memory and Manipulation
Stephanie Mobley
Posted Date:
Status:
February 27, 2022 11:28 AM
Published
After reading the article, Memory and Manipulation, reading the chapter in the textbook, and
listening to the online lecture, we know that memory is not always reliable. For the justice system to
use eye-witness testimony without any physical evidence is unjust. We learn that memory is not
always reliable and accurate. We also learn that memory can be manipulated. If this is the case, then
how is it fair to convict someone solely based on one eye-witness’ memory? How is that bringing
justice to the victim themselves and the person being accused?
In the article, Memory and Manipulation, we see examples of how memory is manipulated. One of
the assignments that Loftus gave her students was to go home and tell their younger sibling
something along the lines of, “Do you remember the time you got lost at the mall”. This memory
did not happen, but some of the children would start having “vivid” recollections of getting lost at
the mall. Another example that we see is when the actor Alan Alda visited the lab. The article states,
“Loftus and her students then implanted a false memory in Alda’s head, subtly convincing him that
a computer analysis of his questionnaire had determined that he had gotten sick from eating bad
hard-boiled eggs when he was a young boy. Later, when they took the actor out for a picnic -a
photograph of the event is tacked up on Loftus’ office cork board — they monitored his food
choices and, sure enough, he avoided the hard-boiled eggs they offered him.”(Ambramsky, 2004).
We read about a case of a 6 year old girl accusing her biological mother of sexual abuse earlier in
her life (Ambramsky, 2004). She only accuses her mother after a custody battle started between her
mother and father after their divorce. The article states that the girl originally lost all memory of the
abuse as years passed. When she was 17 years old, could remember all the abuse vividly. Could it be
possible that she was being manipulated into believing she was abused because her father wanted
sole custody? This could be an example of short-term memory not turning into long-term memory.
She forgot fairly quickly the abuse. In the textbook we learn that short term memory only lasts 15-
30 seconds, if the information is not processed into long-term memory (Spielman, Jenkins, &
Lovett, 2020).
There is another example of how using an eye witness is not always the best choice, without proper
evidence to back it up. There is a video that we watched in class about a man being falsely accused
of rape. The woman who accused the man was very adamant that it was this man because she
remembers his face, or so she thought. She even picked him out of a line up. Years later, when DNA
was used, it came out that the man who was accused was not the perpetrator. It was a man no one
had known. If it was not for the DNA evidence an innocent man could have stayed in prison for the
rest of his life. There is another video that discusses this case in more detail.
There are so many false implications that can be made based on someone’s memory. This could ruin
so many lives. It already has ruined a lot of families’ lives as we have read and seen.
Abramsky, S. (2004, August 19). Memory and Manipulation. LA Weekly. Retrieved February
27, 2022, from https://www.laweekly.com/memory-and-manipulation/
Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. (2020). Psychology 2E. OpenStax College, Rice
University
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