- Information
- AI Chat
Memory discussion
Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 101)
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
Recommended for you
Preview text
After watching the TED talk video "How reliable is your memory?" and reading the textbook I came to the conclusion that false memories and incorrect eye-witness accounts can be very harmful. One estimate indicates that each year approximately 7,500 people in the United States are arrested for and wrongly convicted of serious crimes due to incorrect eye-witness accounts (King, 2019). Elizabeth briefly explained Steve Titus' case who was wrongfully convicted for a rape that he did not commit. The victim chose a photo of Titus in a lineup and stated that he kind of resembled the rapist. This incorrect eye- witness account led him to stand trial and end up being wrongfully convicted (TED, 2013). Photo line-ups are suggestive information that can lead to false memories and incorrect eyewitness accounts. Loftus stated that when she fed the subjects in the study suggestive information that insinuated it was a different person, many of them misidentified their interrogator, often identifying someone who didn't even remotely resemble the real interrogator (TED, 2013). Like Titus, Arthur Jones Jr is another man who was charged and falsely imprisoned. Jones was charged with the murder of a 17- year-old due to an incorrect eyewitness account identifying him as the shooter. Jones was wrongfully charged when he was 23 years old and has dealt with the aftermath for 7 years (Knowles & Spann, 2021). I have a few experiences with false memories and incorrect eyewitness accounts. For example, I was on my way to work when I stopped at the red light waiting for it to turn green. When the light turned green, I started to turn left into my job's parking lot. In the middle of the intersection, I look to my right, and a car is headed in my direction going about 40 mph. I got t-boned in the middle of the intersection. An eyewitness pulled over to make sure we were both okay. When the eyewitness talked to me, they explained the other drivers' side of the story stating they had a green light, and I had a red light. This made me question if I had a green light and maybe I was making it up in my head. Not being able to trust my own memory, I asked the eyewitness if they remembered the green light in the left turning lane. They reassured me that the light did in fact turn green and that the other driver had the wrong story. In the middle of all that stress and adrenaline, I did question my own memory of the situation. References King, L. A. (2021). Experience Psychology (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US). yuzu.vitalsource/books/ Knowles, L., & Spann, A. (2021, July 16). Falsely Accused: Mistaken eyewitness accounts make up majority of wrongful convictions. wlox. wlox/2021/07/16/falsely- accused-mistaken-eyewitness-accounts-make-up-majority-wrongful-convictions/Links to an external site. TED. (2013, September 23). How reliable is your memory? | Elizabeth Loftus [Video]. YouTube. youtube/watch?v=PB2OegI6wvI
Memory discussion
Course: Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 101)
University: Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
This is a preview
Access to all documents
Get Unlimited Downloads
Improve your grades
