Implications of Memory Construction in Eyewitness Testimony

Very Hard Unit 5: Cognitive Psychology Forgetting And Memory Construction

In a study examining the accuracy of eyewitness testimony, participants were shown a video of a simulated car accident. After viewing the video, they were asked leading questions about the incident, such as 'How fast was the red car going when it smashed into the blue car?' This study illustrates the concept of reconstructive memory, which is influenced by various factors, including the phrasing of questions and prior knowledge. Based on this study, which of the following statements best exemplifies the implications of memory construction and the potential for forgetting in eyewitness accounts?

Witnesses accurately recall all aspects of an event regardless of post-event information.

The wording of questions can alter a witness's memory and perception of the event.

Memories are static and reliable once initially encoded.

Forgetting occurs solely due to the decay of memories over time without external influences.

All eyewitness memories remain unaffected by personal biases or societal influences.

Hint

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