The Misinformation Effect and False Memories

The misinformation effect is the tendency for information received after an event to interfere with one’s memory of the original happenings. Research has shown that the introduction of even relatively subtle new information later on can have a dramatic effect on how people remember events they have seen or experienced. It also raises concerns about the reliability of memory.

What Is the Misinformation Effect?

The misinformation effect refers to the impairment in memory for the past that arises after exposure to misleading information.

• If a question contains misleading information, it can distort the memory of the event, a phenomenon that psychologists have dubbed “the misinformation effect.”

Misinformation Effect Example

In the famous experiment conducted by Loftus, participants were shown video footage of a traffic accident.

• After watching the clip, they 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 they hit each other?”
• Researchers discovered that using the word “smashed” instead of “hit” could change how the participants remembered the accident

How to Distinguish False Memories

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.

Misinformation Effect Theories

Blending of memories: The original information and the misleading information presented after the fact get blended together in the person’s memory

• Replacement of memories
• Retrieval of memories
• The more recent the information is, the easier it is to retrieve
• Filling of memory gaps: In some cases, the pertinent data from the original event may never have been encoded in memory in the first place

A Word From ​Verywell

The misinformation effect can have a profound impact on our memories, sometimes causing us to believe that false memories are real.

Factors Influencing the Misinformation Effect

Several factors can contribute to the misinformation effect

• Discussing the event with other witnesses
• Reading or watching news reports
• Repeated exposure to misinformation
• The passage of time
• If the misleading information is presented some time after the original memory, it is much more accessible in memory.

How to Reduce the Misinformation Effect

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.

Source