What is False Memory Syndrome?

False memory syndrome is also called Recovered memory, Pseudo-Memory, and Memory Distortion. False memory syndrome or pseudo-memory is memories of an experience, in which one seemingly remembers that never actually or really occurred. In other words, false memory is a fabricated remembrance of past events that did not really happen. People often falsely thought of memories as recorder that are records accurately of all the experience in our brain but, memories are not always true and accurate and may contain delusions. People might be confident with their memory, but there is no guaranteed that some memories are actually accurate. Confident may sometimes result a person to think something completely false into being completely true.

These pseudo-memories or false memories are often quite strong and emotionally charged, especially those that deals with acts of abuse or violence committed against the individual during childhood. It is still not entirely clear the origin of pseudo-memories. Some therapeutic practices or techniques are considered likely to reinforce and encourage their creation.

The existing knowledge or memories may interfere with the development of a new memory, causing the new memory of an event to be fallacious or entirely false. According to memory researcher Elizabeth Loftus’ research, false memories can be caused by external suggestions. An example would be Hypnosis, an artificially induced state of relaxation and concentration in which deeper parts of the mind become more accessible. Hypnosis is used clinically to reduce reaction to pain, to encourage free association, etc. Elizabeth Loftus has also shown that memories can become stronger and more intense as time passes. As time progresses, memories can beco...

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...ided examples of cases that people were proven to have false memories. In her presentation, she also went in depth of describing her research; where she identified two primary research standards that she uses to study in her memory laboratory at the University of California at Irvine. The first standard, which Loftus calls the “misinformation” standard, which involves testing research subjects on a specific event and seeing how accurate their memory for that event is afterward. The second standard focuses on implanting false memories, which involves bringing participants in and asking suggestive questions and see whether if the questions influences their memory and ability to recall of past events. The conclusion she had drawn from the researches concludes that it’s fairly easy to change people’s memory of the details of events that they have actually experienced.