Creating False Memories Summary

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In recent years there have been a number of malpractice lawsuits filed against psychiatrists and counselors claiming that “false memories” had been implanted in patients, thus causing turmoil and anguish in the patient’s lives, as acknowledged in the article, “Creating False Memories” by Elizabeth F. Loftus. Loftus adds that the victims in all mentioned cases in the article were awarded substantial settlements. The author asserts that research is revealing how “suggestion and imagination” can cause an individual to generate recollections of experiences that never really transpired. Consequently, the article conveys that through hypnosis and suggestive techniques repressed memories were actually found to be fabricated recollections that had been evoked and rooted by therapists. Loftus questions …show more content…
Furthermore, Loftus observes that a simple insinuation that an individual was witnessed in a particular act can cause the individual to admit to the act when in fact they are guiltless. The article emphasizes that “false memories” can be constructed when there is anxiety caused by demands to recall an event, coercion to imagine an event when difficulty in transporting the recollection to conscious awareness is experienced, and direction to discount a recalled event as being true or false. Conversely, the author shows this compilation of data does not negate or find every recollection inspired by promptings, fictitious. The article conveys that verification of events and recollections is imperative. Loftus confirms that investigation into the vulnerability and immunity of individuals regarding implanted memories needs to continue. Correspondingly, the author expresses the need for the mental health community to be vigilant and cognizant of their tremendous impact in employing “suggestion and imagination” for recovering repressed

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