We can't reliably distinguish true memories from false memories. Elizabeth Loftus More Quotes by Elizabeth Loftus More Quotes From Elizabeth Loftus Just because someone thinks they remember something in detail, with confidence and with emotion, does not mean that it actually happened, .. False memories have these characteristics too. Elizabeth Loftus memoriesmeanthinking When we remember something, we're taking bits and pieces of experience - sometimes from different times and places - and bringing it all together to construct what might feel like a recollection but is actually a construction. Elizabeth Loftus remember-somethingdifferenttogether We all have memories that are malleable and susceptible to being contaminated or supplemented in some way. Elizabeth Loftus susceptiblememoriesway Memory, like liberty, is a fragile thing. Elizabeth Loftus fragile-thingslibertymemories In real life, as well as in experiments, people can come to believe things that never really happened. Elizabeth Loftus realbelievepeople When we remember something, we're taking bits and pieces of experience - sometimes from different times and places - and bringing it all together to construct what might feel like a recollection but is actually a construction. The process of calling it into conscious awareness can change it, and now you're storing something that's different. We all do this, for example, by inadvertently adopting a story we've heard. Elizabeth Loftus piecestogethermight My work has made me tolerant of memory mistakes by family and friends. You don't have to call them lies. I think we could be generous and say maybe this is a false memory. Elizabeth Loftus mistakememorieslying Without independent corroboration, little can be done to tell a false memory from a true one. Elizabeth Loftus independentdonememories You can go in there and change it, but so can other people. Elizabeth Loftus people To be cautious, one should not take high confidence as any absolute guarantee of anything. Elizabeth Loftus cautiousshouldguarantees If we make people believe that before the age of 16 they got sick drinking vodka, they don't want to drink as much vodka. Elizabeth Loftus drinkingbelievepeople
