Chris Heaps: Comparing Recollective Experience in True and False Autobiographical Memories

Abstract

Are true autobiographical memories qualitatively distinct from false autobiographical memories? In a single experiment, participants repeatedly recalled events provided by parents and were asked to imagine true and false unremembered events. True memories were rated by participants and observers as more rich in recollective experience, and by participants as more important, emotionally intense, having clearer imagery, and less typical than false memories. Rehearsal frequency was used as a covariate, eliminating these effects. Imagery in true memories was most often viewed from the field perspective, whereas imagery in false memories was most often viewed from the observer perspective. More information was communicated in true memories and true memories contained more information concerning the consequences of described events. Results suggest repeated remembering can make false memories more rich in recollective experience. Differences between true and false memories suggest some potentially distinct characteristics of false memories and provide insight into the process of false memory creation.