An article popped up last week about a team of German researchers who figured out how to reliably implant false memories in study subjects using conversational persuasion methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s new about this is they recently learned how to REMOVE the false memories, afterwards. But they\u2019ve known how to easily implant them for a while now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Poorly trained therapists do this accidentally, as do poorly trained hypnotists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(This is one reason to avoid asking leading questions during regression work, such as: \u201cAnd where did Uncle Bob touch you next?\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s also known that detectives sometimes implant false memories while interrogating a suspect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m not saying they do it on purpose, but even though they\u2019re well aware that their procedures lead to many wrongful convictions, they still use them with impunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s the secret? Repetition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019ll have the person imagine a fictitious scenario over and over again, sometimes over the course of multiple days. They might also start with a real memory and begin suggesting additional details during each run through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This process often leads the subject to believe that the suggested details actually happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On a side note, we modify our memories slightly each time we access them. As the years go by, more changes get introduced until our recollection of an event looks dramatically different than what actually happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some memory researchers say that the factuality of each of our memories ranges from \u201cslightly off\u201d to \u201ctotal nonsense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This calls into question the accuracy of verbal testimonial, especially when a witness is asked to give a statement about what happened at a party decades earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The point of all this? Well, first off, never talk to the police, even if (and ESPECIALLY if) you\u2019re completely innocent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n