Consistency Over Time: Reliability in cognitive processes refers to the consistency and accuracy of information over time.
Memory Types: Examining the reliability of general memories versus personal memories (e.g., first date, first day of school, wedding day).
Reliability of Personal Memories
Emotional Significance: Personal memories often have emotional significance which can affect encoding and recall, potentially enhancing or distorting them.
Consistency and Accuracy: Personal memories may not always be consistent over time. Factors like rehearsal, emotional state, and intervening experiences can alter recall.
Neisser and Harsch (1992):
Flashbulb Memories: Studied the Challenger explosion and found that people’s memories of the event were not as accurate as they believed, showing significant discrepancies over time.
Conclusion
Memory Reliability: Memory is not as reliable as we often assume. While personal memories and those with emotional significance can sometimes be vivid, they are still prone to distortion and inconsistency.
Implications for Legal System: The unreliability of eyewitness testimony highlights the need for caution and additional evidence, like DNA, to ensure just outcomes.
Limitations
Not all memories are equally unreliable; some personal and emotionally charged memories can be surprisingly accurate.
Real-life applications need to balance between findings from controlled experiments and real-world complexities.
Strengths
Research provides valuable insights into how memory works and its potential fallibility.
Helps improve legal practices by highlighting the risks of relying solely on eyewitness accounts.
