False memory

From MerrimackWiki

Definition

False memory is having the memory of something that never occurred. For example, imagine a family friend telling the story of a time when the person were ten or eleven and almost drowned with elaborate detail. If they hear this story, once or twice even, they may recall memories of this event. Then when the mother later finds out about the story and says it never happened, the subject may in fact side with the family friend because they recalled false memories.

Another example is giving a person of list of words all related to the category sleep (nap, pillow) but without the actual word sleep printed. Most people will inaccurately recall that the word sleep is on the list.

Significance

Suggests that memory is constructive in nature and not as infallible as we'd like to believe.