Dozens of people witness a purse snatching. One of the eyewitnesses loudly yells "the man with the blue shirt did it." Later, when questioned by police, several other eyewitnesses remember the purse snatcher wearing a blue shirt, even though the purse snatcher was a woman in flowered dress. This is an example of ________, or the effects of misinformation from external sources that leads to the creation of false memories.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of suggestibility, where external misinformation (the incorrect shout about the man with the blue shirt) influences others' memories, leading them to recall details that were not accurate (false memories of the purse snatcher's appearance).

Dozens of People Witness a Purse Snatching