Chapter 8: Memory (Elizabeth Loftus TED talk)

Which of the following is a true fact about Steve Titus?

• He was a restaurant manager.

• He was 28 years old.

• He lived in New York City.

• He was married and expecting a child.

When the victim saw Titus' in the photo lineup, she said, "I'm absolutely positive that's the man".

• True

• False

What happened to Steve Titus a few days before he was going to trial to sue the police for wrongful conviction?

• He lost his job.

• He lost his relationship with his fiance.

• He had a heart attack and died.

• He went bankrupt.

What % of cases that have been overturned due to DNA evidence are due to faulty eyewitness testimony?

• 10%

• 25%

• 50%

• 75%

Which is the following is NOT a false memory that Loftus or other researchers have planted in their participants?

• Getting lost in a shopping mall

• Breaking a leg

• Being attacked by an animal

• Witnessing demonic possession

Loftus' research showed that offering "suggestions" can influence our behavior beyond just our memory, such as:

• What foods we like or don't like to eat

• What colors we like or don't like to wear

• What political views we hold and how we vote

• How much we donate to charity

What is the take home point of Loftus' research on memory?

• Memory is like a camera that takes authentic pictures of our lives.

• False memories only happen during stressful circumstances.

• We can't reliably distinguish real memories from false memories.

• Hypnosis can help us identify real memories from false memories.