Reference Information
Title: Opening Skinner's Box: Great Psychological Experiments of the Twentieth Century
Author: Lauren Slater
Editor: W.W Norton & Company, 2008
Chapter 8: Lost in the Mall
Summary
This chapter discussed the research and beliefs of Elizabeth Loftus, focusing on her false memory experiments. These experiments involved planting a false memory, such as being lost in the mall as a child, into someone's head by showing them written statements by family members. She was able to show that many people would start "recollecting" details of this memory, concocting things that never actually happened. Because of this, and observations from actual traumatic situations, Loftus concluded that human memory degrades, and imagination plays a large part in memory.
Discussion
I find it interesting that experiments were done to show that the human memory is subject to influence by imagination, time, and suggestion. I especially found it interesting that Loftus would testify in court for people on trial to show her evidence and say that eye witnesses do nothing to prove a person guilty. What if she's used that to set real criminals free?
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