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memory
A leading question can plant a false memory.
The misinformation effect demonstrates that your memory of an event is altered by the phrasing of subsequent questions.
In a 1974 study, participants watched a car accident and were asked how fast the cars were going when they either 'hit' or 'smashed' into each other. Those asked with the word 'smashed' reported higher speeds and were more likely to report seeing broken glass that never existed.
Your memory is a reconstruction, not a recording.
Where this comes from
- Study
- Loftus and Palmer, 1974
- What the check found
- The claim is accurate and reflects the findings of Loftus and Palmer (1974) Experiment 2, but the provided text lacks the specific evidence required for a higher confidence score.
- Confidence
- Solid, with limits
Related
One of these every day, and every one names the study it came from. When a finding is contested, it says so.