Human memory is an amazing area of psychological science. The normal human brain processes billions of pieces of information daily and filters through things quite effectively. We have separate memory parts that allow us to use information for a short time without committing it long term or that enable us to store information for a lifetime and access it at will. We can store more information than every computer on the planet combined. With such powerful systems also come large mistakes, errors, or problems. In fact, every memory contains some component of fiction; some memories are entirely false. Your job is to evaluate the truthfulness of your own memories.
I. You will need to choose one memory from your lifetime; it should be either your earliest childhood memory or some type of flashbulb memory (Car accident, first kiss, natural disaster, etc.). Every person has an earliest memory (although the age differs dramatically) and everyone has experienced some form of major life event that left a flashbulb image on their brain so doing so should not be difficult.
II. With your memory in mind, briefly describe the moment and what you remember of it. Pay particular attention to who was there (WHO), what was going on (WHAT), what the room/environment looked like (WHERE), when it happened (WHEN), the exact words that were said (HOW), etc. Use your imagination to help you visualize the scene, relive the experienced several times if necessary to improve your description of the moment. Try to use your own memory of the event instead of relying on family and friends that were also present.
III. After you have a very solid memory and description of the event written down, critically analyze the memory for aspects that don’t make sense or that could be the result of false memory or misinformation. For example, do you remember watching a cartoon that didn’t start until years later or do you visualize the scene from a perspective that is different from your actual location during the moment (i.e., 3rd person perspective)?
IV. After you have a list of questionable details, ask a friend or relative that was also present to recount the moment. Does their memory differ from yours? Can they confirm or refute any portions of your memory (especially those that made the list of questionable details)? Conclude by discussing how much of the memory you think was false and why you think that.