Question 1

Which of the following has not been associated with causing distortions in children's memories?

Accepted Answer

Free recall is a memory retrieval method that involves recalling information without any prompts or cues. It is not typically associated with causing distortions in children's memories. Choice A, schemas, refer to mental frameworks that help individuals interpret and organize information, but can also lead to the incorporation of false information into memory. Both repeated questioning (B) and suggestive questions (D) have been linked to causing distortions in children's memories.

Question 2

In which case is eyewitness identification likely to be least accurate?

Accepted Answer

When a crime involves use of a weapon, there is a higher chance that the witness may experience high levels of stress and anxiety, leading to a decreased ability to remember and accurately recall details of the perpetrator's appearance. This can lead to inaccurate eyewitness identification.

Question 3

One of the leading reasons for the conviction of innocent persons is

Accepted Answer

Faulty eyewitness identification has been identified as the leading cause of wrongful convictions. Studies show that eyewitnesses often make mistakes due to factors such as stress, the passage of time, and police procedures that can inadvertently influence their memories. These mistakes can lead to the wrongful conviction of innocent persons. While racial prejudice, biased prosecutors, and police corruption can contribute to wrongful convictions, faulty eyewitness identification is the primary reason.

Question 4

Researchers have attempted to implant false memories in the memories of students.To be certain that the event never occurred,they asked students if they recall getting to meet Yosemite Sam (a Warner Brothers character)at Disneyland.When approximately 41 percent of the students reported this memory,the researchers knew it was indeed evidence of a false memory because

Accepted Answer

The best choice is D because it states that the memory was of an impossible event. As Yosemite Sam is a fictional character, meeting him at Disneyland is impossible. Therefore, any memory of such an event is a false memory. Choices A, B, and C do not accurately describe why the memory is false.

Question 5

What point did the authors make regarding claims of recovered memories of childhood abuse?

Accepted Answer

The authors suggest that childhood abuse claims need to have supporting evidence in order to be believed as real. They do not make blanket statements about the prevalence of childhood abuse or the validity of all recovered memories. Instead, they emphasize the importance of corroborating evidence in evaluating claims of childhood abuse.

Question 6

A group of three- to six-year-old children were told about a man named "Sam Stone." For several weeks "Sam" was described to them as being clumsy.Upon his visit,he did nothing to confirm this stereotype.How did this impact the children's memory?

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is A because the passage states that "Over half of the children, regardless of age, responded to these suggestions while lower percentages also reported that Sam soiled a bear and tore a book."

Question 7

As an adult and a parent of a four-year-old child,Camille has seen many children begin to cry when placed on the lap of the mall Santa or Easter Bunny.When discussing this with her brother,Luis,he reminds her of the time when she was five that she began crying hysterically,ran from Santa's lap,and was lost for nearly two hours.Luis has made this entire event up,but Camille has a clear and distinct memory of the event he described.This demonstrates the role of __________ in producing false memories.

Accepted Answer

Plausible events can lead to false memories because they are believable and fit within a person's understanding of the world, making it easier for someone to accept them as true.

Question 8

The most important factor in the majority of the cases,more than 75 percent,where DNA evidence led to the overturning of a unjust conviction of an innocent person was

Accepted Answer

Faulty eyewitness identification was the most important factor in the majority of cases where DNA evidence led to the overturning of an unjust conviction of an innocent person. Studies have shown that eyewitness testimony can be unreliable due to factors such as stress, suggestive questioning, and faulty memory. DNA evidence has helped to reveal false identifications and exonerate innocent individuals.

Question 9

Evidence suggests that when the real criminal is not included in a "live" lineup,most witnesses

Accepted Answer

When the real criminal is not included in a "live" lineup, eyewitnesses are more likely to select the person who most closely resembles the real criminal, even if that individual is innocent. This is known as the "resemblance heuristic," and it is a common phenomenon in eyewitness identifications. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Question 10

False memories are easier to implant when the events that are said to have occurred are perceived as

Accepted Answer

False memories are more easily implanted when they are plausible or believable to the individual. This is because the individual is more likely to accept the false information as true if it aligns with their pre-existing beliefs or experiences. Implausible or atypical events may be less likely to be accepted and therefore less likely to be implanted as a false memory.

Question 11

With regard to the idea of patients' memories being shaped by suggestive psychotherapy techniques,psychologists

Accepted Answer

Psychologists are divided on the issue of whether memories recovered through suggestive psychotherapy are real or false, as there is ongoing debate and research in the field.

Question 12

Eyewitness testimony has been found to be most accurate when

Accepted Answer

Ample time to observe the person under good viewing conditions allows the witness to encode accurate and detailed information into their memory, increasing the accuracy of their testimony.

Question 13

Research on implanted memories and children has indicated that

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that younger children are more susceptible to false memories than older children due to their developing cognitive abilities and suggestibility.

Quiz 7: D: Memory