In interviewing witnesses to a bank robbery, detective Watson hears a slightly different story from each witness. Some witnesses say the robber was tall, while others maintain he was short. Some say he was wearing a black jacket, while others say it was blue. One person even said there were two robbers. The most likely explanation for these differences in the witnesses' recall is ________.
A) proactive interference
B) eidetic imagery
C) retroactive interference
D) reconstructive memory

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The differences in the witnesses' recall suggest that their memories of the event have been influenced by their own experiences, attitudes, and expectations, leading them to reconstruct the details of the robbery in slightly different ways. This phenomenon is known as reconstructive memory, a process by which memories are not simply retrieved but are actively constructed based on prior knowledge and expectations.

In Interviewing Witnesses to a Bank Robbery, Detective Watson Hears