Memory is so very unique and complex, not only that but it is also greatly suggestible. People don’t realize how much another’s point of view of an event can alter their own. Not only can memory be changed by point of view but also by simple influence. “Misinformation effect—misleading information presented after a person witnesses an event can change how the person describes that event later”(Goldstein, 2015). This happens so often that one may not even ever notice. I can attest that this has happened to me many times in many different situations. In my last blog, I talked about the event where I was hit by a car. My lawyer had mentioned details to me about the incident that I hadn’t recalled happening but once he did, my recall of that memory changed. When I spoke of the incident after that, I found myself adding on details that he had told me.

The hippocampus is the part of the brain that controls learning and memory. There are other parts of the brain that also deal with memory such as the amygdala etc. With learning how suggestible people are it appears quite easy to create false memories. Although it seems to be easier to create false memories when a person is younger, if you have a hard time remembering events like I do then age doesn’t factor too much into it. Familiarity has the biggest influence on false memories. If you hadn’t heard of the event or memory before then you would of course not recall it happening. However, after hearing of an event/memory and it being brought up again, you would be more eager to say you did remember and even add in details.

Most of my cousins and other relatives are a lot older than me because my Nana had my mom when she was in her late forties. With that being said, I obviously wasn’t around for many family events and gatherings. My cousins used to talk about things they did together when they were younger and I always had no idea what they were talking about because I was either not born yet or extremely young. After hearing about some of the events I would then recall it and even add in details even if I hadn’t been there. It is very easy to want to remember something especially if it holds great meaning (like memories with family).

References:
Goldstein, E. Bruce. “Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research, and Everyday Experience”. Cengage Learning, 4th Ed, 2015.