In class one day we discussed implanting memories. We discussed the study that was conducted where two members of the family were talking about memories that happened around their younger sibling and then made one story up and asked them if they remembered it. Then a few days later when asked about the memory that never actually happened, the younger sibling insisted it did and had very descriptive details about it.
After hearing about this study/experiment, I realized I have the perfect scenario to try it for myself. I told my older brother of one year what I had learned and we planned out the experiment just like the one told us in class in order to manipulate and implant a false memory in my younger sisters mind. My brother and I are college students (obviously) and my sister is still a freshman in high school. I wasn’t sure if this was too old of an age or if it would work but she has a reputation of being gullible so we figured we’d give it a shot.
On our first day back from spring break, my family went out to eat and at one point during the meal my brother and I started talking about all our previous vacations and where we went. Then we completely made up and she intervened saying she doesnt remember that. We made up some details and told her that it was whe she was only about 8. This way she should be old enough to remmeber but far enough in the past so that we can make her think we actually went on that vacation. My brother and I made up details about the trip and she just sat and listened.
Ten a couple days later I had a friend over and my Brother and I were telling him about the fake vacation while we knew my sister was around. When she entered the room we asked her again if she remembered that vacation and to our surprise she said yes and had several details about the hotel and what not, although she did say the vacation was very vague to her. I couldn’t believe it actually worked though. We then told her we made it up and she didn’t believe us. It took us 30 minutes to convince her we tricked her. I even had to show her my psychology notes and call our parents to tell her it wasn’t real.
I thought it was very interesting that this actually worked. Just like the boy in the study that was shown to us in class, my sister made up facts and details about the hotel and vacation that never actually occurred. It also shows how easily someone can be manipulated into believing just about anything if done properly.