======False Memories======


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**Alternative titles:** Memory Illusion Game
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
 - Provide copies of two word lists.  
  - If running a structured program, the instructor acts as the reader while participants are listeners.  
  - If running a drop-in session, have participants work in pairs. One will be the reader, the other the listener.  
  - The reader reads aloud all words from "List 1" without showing it to the listener.  
  - After reading, ask the listener to write down all words they can remember.  
  - Ask if anyone included the word "park," which was not on the list but may be recalled due to word associations.  
  - Repeat the activity with "List 2," switching roles if in pairs.  
  - Afterward, ask if anyone included the word "ocean," which was not on the list but may be implanted as a false memory.



====Links==== 
Memory Psychology: False Memories Activity - Amanda Woolston: 
{{youtube>8lD_oKVna_o?}}\\

Brain Games- False Memory and Misinformation Effect - Professor Ross: 
{{youtube>qQ-96BLaKYQ?}}\\

📄 False Memories Activity - Demco, Inc: [[https://resources.demco.com/FalseMemoriesActivity.pdf]]\\

📄 Understanding and Exploring False Memories - annmichaelsen.com/: [[https://annmichaelsen.com/2025/03/28/lesson-plan-understanding-and-exploring-false-memories/]]\\


====Variations====
  * Use different themed word lists (e.g., food, sports, holidays).  
  * Increase or decrease the number of words to adjust difficulty.  
  * Allow groups to compare results and discuss differences in recalled words.



====Safety Precautions====
  * No safety risks; ensure participants are comfortable sharing answers.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why do some participants recall words that were never read? (Because the brain fills in gaps using associations and patterns.)  
  * How does this activity demonstrate the limits of memory accuracy? (It shows that memory is reconstructive and prone to errors.)  
  * How might false memories affect eyewitness testimony? (People may confidently recall details that never occurred, leading to unreliable accounts.)