Lost In the Mall by Elizabeth Loftus

Lost In the Mall by Elizabeth Loftus

Tucker Bryant & Ellis SchirmerTucker Bryant & Ellis Schirmer

Theory & HypothesisTheory & Hypothesis

The act of imagining false events led to the creation of false memories.

Confabulations can be created through suggestions.

The act of imagining false events led to the creation of false memories.

Confabulations can be created through suggestions.

Research design & procedureResearch design & procedure

Asked 24 individuals, ranging from 18 to 53, to try to remember childhood events that had been recounted by a relative.

Prepared a booklet for each participant containing one-paragraph stories about three events that had actually happened to them, and one that had not.

Reconstructed the false event using information about a shopping trip provided by relatives, who verified that participant had in fact been lost at about the age of five.

The lost-in-mall scenario included: lost for a time period, crying, aid and comfort by an elderly woman, and reunion with family.

Asked 24 individuals, ranging from 18 to 53, to try to remember childhood events that had been recounted by a relative.

Prepared a booklet for each participant containing one-paragraph stories about three events that had actually happened to them, and one that had not.

Reconstructed the false event using information about a shopping trip provided by relatives, who verified that participant had in fact been lost at about the age of five.

The lost-in-mall scenario included: lost for a time period, crying, aid and comfort by an elderly woman, and reunion with family.

The resultsThe results

25% of the participants remembered the fictious event. ( 6 out of 24)

The study provides evidence that people can be led to remember their past in different ways, and they can even be coaxed into “remembering” entire events that never happened.

25% of the participants remembered the fictious event. ( 6 out of 24)

The study provides evidence that people can be led to remember their past in different ways, and they can even be coaxed into “remembering” entire events that never happened.

Ethical issuesEthical issues

Participant manipulation Potential for clinical misuse Nadean Cool Had memories

planted by psychiatrist Undisclosed aim

Participant manipulation Potential for clinical misuse Nadean Cool Had memories

planted by psychiatrist Undisclosed aim

Ecological ValidityEcological Validity

Lab experiment =slightly impaired

No risk of demand characteristics Focus on cognition leaves little

room for ecological application

Lab experiment =slightly impaired

No risk of demand characteristics Focus on cognition leaves little

room for ecological application

EvaluationEvaluationPRO

Well-controlled Replicable Demonstrates cause &

effect relationship Supports hypothesis Serves as evidence to

further conclusions Permits objectivity and

unbiased observations Uses a wide sample of

ages Good use of

operationalization prevents observer bias

PRO Well-controlled Replicable Demonstrates cause &

effect relationship Supports hypothesis Serves as evidence to

further conclusions Permits objectivity and

unbiased observations Uses a wide sample of

ages Good use of

operationalization prevents observer bias

CON Social facilitation Extraneous variables;

personality Ethical issues with

potential application Has been used to draw

certain wild conclusions May be situation-specific Survey may be biased by

the way questions are asked

Possible sampling bias

CON Social facilitation Extraneous variables;

personality Ethical issues with

potential application Has been used to draw

certain wild conclusions May be situation-specific Survey may be biased by

the way questions are asked

Possible sampling bias

Could this study be done today?

Could this study be done today?

Replication of exact study is feasible Many replications and variations

performed to date Most studies demonstrate similar

conclusions/evidence Certain variations pose potential

ethical breaches Experiment is fairly recent – 1991

Replication of exact study is feasible Many replications and variations

performed to date Most studies demonstrate similar

conclusions/evidence Certain variations pose potential

ethical breaches Experiment is fairly recent – 1991

What makes this a classic study?

What makes this a classic study?

Verifies inference most people tend to make or refute

Demonstrates awesome power of subconscious

Uses power of suggestion Proves the human tendency to

confabulate

Verifies inference most people tend to make or refute

Demonstrates awesome power of subconscious

Uses power of suggestion Proves the human tendency to

confabulate