Memory reports can be influenced by inferences that individuals make based on their own experience and knowledge which often leads to false memories (Goldstein, 2020). False memories are quite common. In fact, false memories arise from the same constructive process that produces true memories (Goldstein, 2020). Memory is not a camera or a tape recorder that creates a perfect, unchangeable record of everything that happens. The constructive property of memory is beneficial in most situations, but it can also be very detrimental in certain situations, such as eyewitness testimonies.  

Eyewitness testimonies are not as reliable as many people think. When DNA analysis was introduced in the late 1980’s, it revolutionized forensic science (Chew, 2018). DNA analysis provides an increases level of accuracy about the actual perpetrator(s) versus innocent people falsely accused of crime. And because of DNA testing, many settled cases were reviewed again. “358 people who had been convicted and sentenced to death since 1989 have been exonerated through DNA evidence. Of these, 71% had been convicted through eyewitness misidentification and had served an average of 14 years in prison before exoneration” (Chew, 2018).  

Research is clear that false memories are prevalent in eyewitness testimonies. According to the Innocent Project, Kirk Bloodsworth, who was convicted and sentenced to death in 1984 for the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl, became the first United States death row prisoner to be exonerated by DNA. No physical or circumstantial evidence linked Bloodsworth to the crime, but five witnesses placed him either with the victim or near the scene of the crime.  

As you can see, memory is not a camera or a tape recorder that creates a perfect, unchangeable record of everything that happens. Memories are influenced by an individual’s knowledge and experience of the world. And the constructive process of memory can be very detrimental.  

Work Cited 

Chew, S. L. (2018, August 20). Myth: Eyewitness testimony is the best kind of evidence. Association for Psychological Science – APS. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.psychologicalscience.org/teaching/myth-eyewitness-testimony-is-the-best-kind-of-evidence.html. 

Goldstein, E. B. (2020). Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research, and everyday experience. Cengage Learning Asia Pte Ltd. 

Kirk Bloodsworth – Innocence project. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://innocenceproject.org/cases/kirk-bloodsworth/. 

According to the modal model of memory introduced by Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin (1968), there are three types of memory: sensory memory, short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM). Sensory memory is the initial stage of memory which holds all incoming information for seconds or fractions of a second. STM is the second stage to memory which holds five to seven items for about 15 to 20 seconds. And LTM is the last stage of memory which can hold a large amount of information for years or even decades (Goldstein, 2015 p. 121).  

STM is the system that is involved with storing small amounts of information for a brief period of time according to Baddeley (2009) as cited by Goldstein (2015). Although many downplay the importance of STM due to the brief duration that it holds information, it is responsible for a great deal of our mental life (Goldstein, 2015 p. 127). STM is believed to be a critical contributor to essential cognitive functions and properties such as language, comprehension, learning, planning, reasoning, and general fluid intelligence (Goldstein, 2015). Thus, short-term memory loss presents tremendous barriers to overcome.  

Frankie Muniz, child actor who is most famous for his role as Malcolm in Malcolm in the Middle experiences severe memory loss after suffering multiple concussions (Adebowale, 2019). Muniz has suffered from a total of nine concussions in his lifetime with the first one occurring at age 7 (Adebowale, 2019). In 2012, he had a mini-stroke, and then had a second attack less than a year later (Adebowale, 2019). Although the timing of when Muniz started losing his memory is unclear, in 2017 he opened up about his short-term memory loss.  

Although Frankie Muniz acted on Malcolm in the Middle for 6 and a half years, he cannot remember most of the time he spent on set. This is just one of the many side effects of short-term memory loss. If short-term memory loss becomes severe, then it becomes difficult for individuals care for themselves. This means that a caregiver is needed in order to survive. As you can see, short-term memory is more important than you think.  

To recap, there are three types of working memory: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Although many only perceive long-term memory as important, all 3 types of working memory are crucial to our mental life. As you can see, short-term memory loss has many different side effects that make living life difficult.  

Work Cited 

Adebowale, T. (2019, October 4). Frankie Muniz opens up about his severe memory loss. Men’s Health. Retrieved October 14, 2021, from https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a29365398/frankie-muniz-memory-loss/. 

Atkinson, R. and Shiffrin, R. (1968) The multi-store model of memory 

Goldstein, E. B. (2015). Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research, and everyday experience. Cengage Learning. 

The Ponzo Illusion and Perception 

Have you ever wondered how optical illusions work? Well, how we perceive things is the main explanation. Perception can be defined as the recognition, organization, and interpretation of information from our sensory experiences. And it has been the focus since the start of class. Illusions help to show that we do not always perceive things the real way they are. In this blog, I will discuss the Ponzo Illusion, how it works, and how it relates to perception.  

The Ponzo Illusion is a famous optical illusion that was discovered by Mario Ponzo, an Italian psychologist. Ponzo first demonstrated the Ponzo Illusion in 1913. This Illusion is a prime example of showing why and how the experience of the illusion still exists even though we know we are experiencing an illusion (Donaldson & Macpherson, 2017). The effect of this illusion is that the top yellow line appears longer than the bottom yellow line, but they are the same size. I provided a picture at the end of the text for reference.  

There are many different explanations to how the Ponzo Illusion works. One reason is because of linear perspective. The upper line looks longer because we perceive the lines as parallel lines receding into the distance rather than converging lines. So, we interpret the upper line as it was farther away, so we see it as longer (2019). The framing effect also explains this illusion. The framing effect is when objects that fill an enclosing border appear larger than the same object that is surrounded by a larger frame.  

The Ponzo Illusion relates to perception in many ways, but I want to discuss one thing specifically, the Gestalt Laws of Perception. There are six Laws of Perception: Proximity, Similarity, Good Continuation, Connectedness, Common Fate, and Pragnanz. The Ponzo Illusion would fall under the Pragnanz Law. The Pragnanz Law states that we tend to see the pattern in the simplest way. It is easier to assume that the top line is longer than the bottom line because that is how it appears.  

So, as you can see, optical illusions only exist due to our perception. Perception is our interpretation of information from our sensory experiences. If what we perceive was exactly how it was, then optical illusion would now exist. So, if you have ever wondered how optical illusions work, this is how! 

http://hernanigil.blogspot.co.uk/

Work Cited 

Donaldson, J. and Macpherson, F. (July 2017), “Ponzo Illusion” in F. Macpherson (ed.), The Illusions Index. Retrieved from https://www.illusionsindex.org/i/ponzo-illusion. 

Ponzo illusion. (2019, March 31). New World Encyclopedia, . Retrieved 21:38, September 12, 2021 from https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Ponzo_illusion&oldid=1019365.