11+-+Question

What is the misinformation effect and how does that distort memory?
Name: Hung Jie Song Date: January 20, 2015

Research: The misinformation effect is a form of retroactive interference in which post-event information distorts the original memory. Imagine this, you wake up in the middle of the night and head over to the kitchen for some food. As you carry back to your room a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich, you see something black and furry scurry across the room. Your body is momentarily paralyzed from the shock - your face drained of all its color. You sprint back to your room as fast as possible and cover your body with your blanket - the shield against all monsters large and small. At the breakfast table, you tell your parents about what you witnessed last night to which your dad replies, "Don't worry. It's just the new cat we adopted." You let out a sigh of relief and carry on with your day knowing that you now have a household pet. Funny thing is, your dad never adopted a cat, but because of what your dad said, you will forever believe that the monster you saw that night was your cat.

Web Citations:
 * Wayne Weiten (2010). //Psychology: Themes and Variations: Themes and Variations.// Cengage Learning. p. 338.ISBN 978-0-495-60197-5.
 * Robinson-Riegler, B., & Robinson-Riegler, G. (2004).//Cognitive Psychology: Applying the Science of the Mind//. Allyn & Bacon. p. 313.

Media Citation: http://www.brianfh.com/recpaint.jpg

Citations: >
 * Wayne Weiten (2010). //Psychology: Themes and Variations: Themes and Variations.// Cengage Learning. p. 338.ISBN 978-0-495-60197-5.
 * Robinson-Riegler, B., & Robinson-Riegler, G. (2004).//Cognitive Psychology: Applying the Science of the Mind//. Allyn & Bacon. p. 313.
 * http://www.brianfh.com/recpaint.jpg

COMMENT: MELISSA YOU

Good job with answering the question! I like your wonderful example of the misinformation effect, but you could also talk about how some factor such as time, discussing the event with other witnesses, and repeated exposure to misinformation may influence the misinformation effect.

http://psychology.about.com/od/memory/fl/What-Is-the-Misinformation-Effect.htm Cherry, Kendra. "What Is the Misinformation Effect?" //About.com Psychology//. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.