Memory Construction: A Critical Analysis of False Memories Revealed by the List Learning Paradigm

-by Steve East

False memories are the product of the cognitive processes in which we store and retrieve information. In this process memories are stored and retrieved based on a loose configuration of previously stored information and key points of information obtained from the presenting event. The human mind from this point literally fits in the blanks of what actually happened with what it thinks should have happened and in most cases, although this process is based only loosely on the actual incoming data, the constructed memories are amazingly accurate. False memories are one of the pitfalls of this amazing process. Because memories are constructed they are vulnerable to information that is similar to that of which is being stored. When similar and relevant information is stored at critical moments the phenomenon of false memories has been known to occur.

Predisposition to Delusion

The present study was designed to investigate a ubiquitous predisposition by people to the false memory phenomenon. It is predicted that participants will recall at comparable rates words presented and words similar to those presented, but not. If the proceeding results support this prediction the subsequent unavoidable recall of non-presented words at the same rate as presented words will constitute a demonstration of the creation of false memories in the participants.

Roediger and McDermott (1995) studied this phenomenon by conducting two experiments utilizing the list learning paradigm. This form of false memory measurement first used by Deese (1959) features a list of words presented to the participant and then directly following requires the participant to recall as many words from the original list as possible. The recall stage of the experiment features a second list containing words from the first list, words bearing no similarity to words in the first list, and words incredibly similar to those in the first list. The focus of this study was to see if these words not in the first list, but similar would be recalled as if they were in the first list. The first experiment in this study featured six lists and the

second experiment featured 15 lists. Many words from the first experiment were also featured in the second to see if rehearsal would change the results. Results of this study measured a false recall rate of 40 % non-presented words in the first experiment and 55 % non-presented words in the second experiment, which indicate a strong propensity for the creation of events or memories by participants that had never occurred. 

 - Steve East is a counselor at The Landing -  An Exclusive Treatment Facility for Men