# False memories are more powerful and easier to acquire than ever thought possible.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-memories-are-more-powerful-and-easier-to-acquire-than-ever-thought-possible/155787>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 18, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-memories-are-more-powerful-and-easier-to-acquire-than-ever-thought-possible/155787 "2003-02-18T02:52:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-memories-are-more-powerful-and-easier-to-acquire-than-ever-thought-possible/155787/1 "2003-02-18T02:52:23Z")

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Interesting article. I always wondered how DNA evidence keeps exonerating people convicted by eyewitnesses that swear to their guilt.

[Our changeable memories: legal and practical implications - Nature Magazine, by Elizabeth Loftus, professor of psychology at the University of California](http://faculty.washington.edu/eloftus/2003Nature.pdf)

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> The malleability of memory is becoming increasingly clear. Many influences can cause memories to change or even be created anew, including our imaginations and the leading questions or different recollections of others. The knowledge that we cannot rely on our memories, however compelling they might be, leads to questions about the validity of criminal convictions that are based largely on the testimony of victims or witnesses. Our scientific understanding of memory should be used to help the legal system to navigate this minefield.

[False memories can be planted under interrogation, according to US scientists](http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_medical/story.jsp?story=379382)

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> More than a third of people are susceptible to false memories, according to studies by Elizabeth Loftus, professor of psychology at the University of California. Her experiments could explain why so many people in Washington DC said they saw a white van near to the scene of last year’s sniper shootings. In fact, the snipers used a dark Chevrolet Caprice and no white van was involved.

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**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-memories-are-more-powerful-and-easier-to-acquire-than-ever-thought-possible/155787/2 "2003-02-18T02:56:28Z")

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Yeah, _yeah_, I remember this now!

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**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-memories-are-more-powerful-and-easier-to-acquire-than-ever-thought-possible/155787/3 "2003-02-18T03:09:48Z")

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The Loftus studies are old and are pretty much well accepted psychological facts.

The Justice system has been slow to move however, mainly because it far easier and more effective to use eyewitness testimony rather than DNA to convice a jury.