{"id":499,"date":"2023-03-03T19:12:54","date_gmt":"2023-03-03T19:12:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/7-3-3-learn-it-more-reasons-for-forgetting\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T00:00:56","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T00:00:56","slug":"7-3-3-learn-it-more-reasons-for-forgetting","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/7-3-3-learn-it-more-reasons-for-forgetting\/","title":{"raw":"Problems with Memory: Learn It 3\u2014More Reasons for Forgetting","rendered":"Problems with Memory: Learn It 3\u2014More Reasons for Forgetting"},"content":{"raw":"

Memory Errors<\/h2>\r\n

Let's learn about the last four of Schacter's seven sins of memory (the other three are included again as review).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Table 1. Schacter\u2019s Seven Sins of Memory<\/caption>\r\n
Sin<\/th>\r\nType<\/th>\r\nDescription<\/th>\r\nExample<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
Transience<\/td>\r\nForgetting<\/td>\r\nAccessibility of memory decreases over time<\/td>\r\nForget events that occurred long ago<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Absentmindedness<\/td>\r\nForgetting<\/td>\r\nForgetting caused by lapses in attention<\/td>\r\nYou forget where your phone is<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Blocking<\/td>\r\nForgetting<\/td>\r\nAccessibility of information is temporarily blocked<\/td>\r\nTip of the tongue<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Misattribution<\/strong><\/td>\r\nDistortion<\/td>\r\nSource of memory is confused<\/td>\r\nRecalling a dream memory as a waking memory<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Suggestibility<\/strong><\/td>\r\nDistortion<\/td>\r\nFalse memories created by persuasion or prompting from others<\/td>\r\nThe result from leading questions<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Bias<\/strong><\/td>\r\nDistortion<\/td>\r\nMemories distorted by current belief system<\/td>\r\nAligning memories to current beliefs<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Persistence<\/strong><\/td>\r\nIntrusion<\/td>\r\nInability to forget undesirable memories<\/td>\r\nTraumatic events<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

Errors of Distortion<\/h2>\r\n

In addition to forgetting, our memories can also be distorted<\/strong>\u2014changed, reshaped, or influenced by inaccurate information. Daniel Schacter (2001) identified three distortion errors: misattribution<\/strong>, suggestibility<\/strong>, and bias<\/strong>. These distortions show that memory is not a perfect recording device but a reconstructive process.<\/p>\r\n

Misattribution<\/h4>\r\n
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misattribution<\/h3>\r\n

Misattribution<\/strong> happens when you confuse the source of your information.<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_6487\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"217\"]\"A Figure 1<\/strong>. The error of misattribution can happen when we associate a memory with the wrong person or source.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n

Let\u2019s say Alejandro was dating Eva and they saw the Spider-Man: Homecoming<\/em> movie together. Then they broke up and Alejandro saw Spider-Man: No Way Home<\/em> movie with someone else. Later that year, Alejandro and Eva got back together. One day, they were discussing the films Alejandro mentioned how funny it was watching Eva's reaction to Spider-Man: No Way Home.<\/em>\u00a0When Eva responded with a puzzled and then angry look, Alejandro realized he\u2019d committed the error of misattribution.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

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Cryptomnesia<\/strong> is source confusion taken a step further: a person unknowingly mistakes an old memory for a brand-new idea.<\/p>\r\n

In cryptomnesia, you:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  • Remember the idea<\/em>, but<\/li>\r\n\t
  • Forget where it came from,<\/li>\r\n\t
  • Leading you to believe you invented it.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    This is sometimes called inadvertent plagiarism<\/strong> because the person genuinely believes the idea is original.<\/p>\r\n\r\nOne form of source misattribution is called cryptomnesia<\/strong>, which involves the unconscious influence of memory that causes current thoughts to be wrongfully attributed as novel. In other words, individuals mistakenly believe that they are the original generators of a thought when it really came from somewhere else.
    \r\n

    Real-World Example: George Harrison<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n

    In the 1970s, former Beatle George Harrison<\/strong> released My Sweet Lord<\/em>. He was later sued because the melody was nearly identical to He\u2019s So Fine<\/em> by The Chiffons. The court ruled it \u201csubconsciously plagiarized\u201d<\/strong>\u2014a textbook case of cryptomnesia.<\/p>\r\n

    It turns out to be a virtual duplication. Listen to the similarities below.
    \r\n<\/span>