457. The psychology of 'false' memories

On this episode

About this episode

We treat our memories like a reliable recording of the past. We remember what happened, how we felt, where we were, and what was said. But what if our account is more like a subjective recollection of events? In this episode, we explore the concept of false memories – how they form, why this matters in our everyday lives, and their more serious potential impacts. We explore: • The cognitive mechanisms behind false memories • The misinformation effect and the car crash study • Why our memories are open to imagination, repetition and social influence • Potential consequences of false memories in news reporting and eyewitness testimony • The importance of ethical…