Psychol Sci March 2015 PMID 25589599

Constructing rich false memories of committing crime.

Julia Shaw, Stephen Porter

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Mentions

179
Peak: 4 in Sep 2023
across 6 sources since Mar 2019

Extended reach

186,902
potential audience

Total likes

2,821

Video views

64,907

Mentions per month

Mar 2019 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

The social discussions consistently emphasize the unsettling nature of the research, with phrases like 'disturbing,' 'profound implications,' and 'manipulative techniques' illustrating high engagement and concern. Examples such as citing the 70% false memory rate and describing the research as a 'game changer' reflect the high impact these findings have on legal and psychological fields.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions agree on the significance and disturbing implications of the research, emphasizing its profound effects.

InterestHigh interest

Posts frequently reference the surprising ability to implant false memories, showing high curiosity and concern.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many comments delve into details about the studies, mentioning specifics like the 70% false memory rate and suggestive interview techniques.

ImpactHigh impact

Discussions highlight the research's potential to influence legal practices, psychological understanding, and ethical considerations, indicating high perceived impact.

Abstract in brief

  • This study demonstrates that people can be induced to develop detailed false memories of committing crimes using suggestive memory techniques, with 70% of participants exposing such memories after multiple interviews.
  • The false memories described are complex and vivid, closely resembling true memories and false memories of noncriminal events, highlighting how easily rich, detailed false recollections can be created.
  • The findings suggest that highly suggestive interview methods can lead individuals to confidently recall crimes they never committed, raising concerns about false confessions and memory reliability in legal settings.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Adem Sakal
@avasas1 · X

veysi efendi mesleki itibarını dahi hiçe sayıp, aldığın eğitime de ihanet ederek hangi saik ve yönlendirmelerle yüzün kızarmadan bu yalanı ortaya attığından eminim. tabi kişiliğin doktor kişiliğini baskılamış https://t.co/ocjxm2hJWa https://t.co/h5emORPISR https://t.co/Eo2uzn8O56

Sep 19, 2023 · 12 likes · 2 shares · 1,621 followers View post →
Siberian fox
@SilverVVulpes · X

tired: false crime accusations on your enemies wired: planting false memories of having committed a crime on your enemies https://t.co/xACJZZlrWY

Sep 1, 2019 · 10 likes · 1 share · 6,290 followers View post →
Titiat Scriptor
@titiatscriptor · X

Ein wunderbares Experiment zeigt, wie fehlerhaft Erinnerungen sind. Zuerst erfinden die Forscher eine Straftat. Nach 3 Interviews mit Suggestivfragen sind 70% der Probanden sicher, die Tat in ihrer Jugend begangen zu haben, inklusive eigener Details. DOI:10.1177/0956797614562862

Sep 14, 2020 · 6 likes · 6,616 followers View post →
Mia
@composermyg · X

questioning someone do it according to actual evidence and not risk to implant a false memory. This is one of those studies. It should be available as pdf for everyone https://t.co/ax7055RCBn

Nov 27, 2020 · 4 likes · 1,619 followers View post →
Erik Allen, MA
@belakfan3 · X

Her PhD study is available here, but make sure you read the correction to her original dataset! https://t.co/VDqerw6eNR

Apr 30, 2022 · 4 likes · 290 followers View post →
Nicolai Berk
@nicolaiberk · X

Random (*somewhat* unethical) study of the week: make people remember crimes they never committed. https://t.co/B0P3dgWIk1

Sep 18, 2019 · 3 likes · 2,406 followers View post →

All mentions

Brian Gilley
@theBrianGilley · X

This needs to be given more thought. Implications of this type of research is profound and neglected. Constructing Rich False Memories of Committing Crime - Julia Shaw, Stephen Porter, 2015 https://t.co/y0BZvSYZUF

Sep 27, 2025 · 1 like · 552 followers View post →
Ué?llington Psi
@WelliLMaxim · X

Vou trazer umas curiosidades aleatórias aqui: Psicólogos já induziram memórias falsas de crimes em pessoas inocentes. Em um estudo realizado por Julia Shaw (UCL) e Stephen Porter (UBC) em 2015, intitulado "Constructing Rich False Memories of Committing Crime"

Jun 20, 2025 · 2 likes · 1 share · 229 followers View post →
Psy Red
@psyredterapia · X

Source : Shaw, J., & Porter, S. (2015). Constructing rich false memories of committing crime. Psychological science, 26(3), 291–301. https://t.co/ev4R7jL9vV

Nov 28, 2024 · 3,740 followers View post →
Mobile Truck Repair
@MTRRoadside · X

https://t.co/u1stYjCA67

Nov 18, 2024 · 1,034 followers View post →
Carl Hendrick
@C_Hendrick · X

RT @matbury: @C_Hendrick It's demonstrably possible to implant life-changingly important false memories in people's minds as demonstrated h…

Mar 16, 2024 · 1 share · 38,295 followers View post →
Matt Bury, MA Online & Distance Ed & AppLing
@matbury · X

@C_Hendrick It's demonstrably possible to implant life-changingly important false memories in people's minds as demonstrated here: Shaw, J., & Porter, S. (2015). Constructing Rich False Memories of Committing Crime. Psychological Science, 0956797614562862. https://t.co/n1pf6otSNe

Mar 15, 2024 · 2 likes · 1 share · 1,082 followers View post →
keremcanetti
@keremcanetti · X

RT @avasas1: veysi efendi mesleki itibarını dahi hiçe sayıp, aldığın eğitime de ihanet ederek hangi saik ve yönlendirmelerle yüzün kızarmad…

Sep 19, 2023 · 2 shares · 465 followers View post →
camelliagrubb
@camelliagrubb · X

RT @avasas1: veysi efendi mesleki itibarını dahi hiçe sayıp, aldığın eğitime de ihanet ederek hangi saik ve yönlendirmelerle yüzün kızarmad…

Sep 19, 2023 · 2 shares · 278 followers View post →
Adem Sakal
@avasas1 · X

veysi efendi mesleki itibarını dahi hiçe sayıp, aldığın eğitime de ihanet ederek hangi saik ve yönlendirmelerle yüzün kızarmadan bu yalanı ortaya attığından eminim. tabi kişiliğin doktor kişiliğini baskılamış https://t.co/ocjxm2hJWa https://t.co/h5emORPISR https://t.co/Eo2uzn8O56

Sep 19, 2023 · 12 likes · 2 shares · 1,621 followers View post →
JXG
@JohnXGaspar · X

You memory is not a film, but rather more like a play. When you recall something, your body recreates the memory by re-experiencing the same sensory imprints from the original event. You cannot bring up a memory without rewriting it. https://t.co/CF6Nsae0FC

Sep 9, 2023 · 575 followers View post →
electronic Max
@emax · X

this is worrisome and in the 'humans are complicated' department: people can be made to believe they committed a crime they didn't, including being able to recall false memories of it in rich detail https://t.co/FhSmUj4eHZ

Jun 17, 2023 · 2 likes · 3,966 followers View post →
シコシコbot(API調整中)
@auto_shiko_bot · X

( `-´ )ヴェルサイユは10.1177/0956797614562862<しびれくらげ>で行使するために働いていると、信一は、パァンと手を振ると私と ( ヽηノ ノ ω ヽ

May 11, 2023 · 5,609 followers View post →
Chris Sanders
@chrissanders88 · X

This study is from 2015, but I find myself coming back to it a lot and checking up on other research that cites and builds upon it. https://t.co/nk1XprNlRI 14/14

Oct 10, 2022 · 1 like · 34,526 followers View post →
Erik Allen, MA
@belakfan3 · X

Her PhD study is available here, but make sure you read the correction to her original dataset! https://t.co/VDqerw6eNR

Apr 30, 2022 · 4 likes · 290 followers View post →
Jill Nephew
@jillnephew · X

@mollymaloofmd @ManojDoss @zenbrainest @AnonPsych2 Porter, S., Yuille, J. C., & Lehman, D. R. (1999). The nature of real, implanted, and fabricated memories for emotional childhood events. Law and human behavior Shaw, J., & Porter, S. (2015). Constructing rich false memories of committing crime. Psychological science

Apr 5, 2022 · 1 like · 941 followers View post →
neuropsych
@neuropsychfacts · X

You memory is not a film. When you recall something, your body recreates the memory by re-experiencing the same sensory imprints from the original event. You cannot bring up a memory without rewriting it. https://t.co/VGMNlRKvox

Sep 17, 2021 · 122 followers View post →
Titiat Scriptor
@titiatscriptor · X

(13) Quellen: Q1: https://t.co/hB8b3AREAc Q2: https://t.co/B9EfZsgW40 Q3: https://t.co/oLl44B1lt8 Q4: https://t.co/TW4F3zEUbr Q5: https://t.co/ML8FCfxB0D Q6: https://t.co/r02HDySV95

Aug 29, 2021 · 2 likes · 6,616 followers View post →
MadWolf18
@MadWolf18 · X

@MxForense Hasta donde sé, están de acuerdo en que no. Para los dos lados. https://t.co/um9KWbCQJr https://t.co/7sd4qocMp3

Apr 13, 2021 · 1 like · 1,000 followers View post →
Yağız Alp Tekin
@ygzltkn · X

A study about how manipulative can asking leading-questions be https://t.co/lV8rc1eltB

Mar 5, 2021 · 1 like · 641 followers View post →
Relief Belief
@ReliefBelief · X

@JayMedenwaldt J Shaw: false memories of theft, assault, assault with weapon . I don't think early adolescence necessarily makes this useless. https://t.co/raXH5ooMPD

Mar 3, 2021 · 1,038 followers View post →
dingledoorf
@dingledoorf · X

@madeofmistak3 they've actually been able to do this with people too! https://t.co/mzI2b9aBJ9

Jan 13, 2021 · 1 like · 398 followers View post →
Mia
@composermyg · X

questioning someone do it according to actual evidence and not risk to implant a false memory. This is one of those studies. It should be available as pdf for everyone https://t.co/ax7055RCBn

Nov 27, 2020 · 4 likes · 1,619 followers View post →
Platinum
@NewPlatinumm · X

@AbdelmoughitMe1 @UberFacts https://t.co/BFq3ZLkpvH

Sep 28, 2020 · 97 followers View post →
Titiat Scriptor
@titiatscriptor · X

Ein wunderbares Experiment zeigt, wie fehlerhaft Erinnerungen sind. Zuerst erfinden die Forscher eine Straftat. Nach 3 Interviews mit Suggestivfragen sind 70% der Probanden sicher, die Tat in ihrer Jugend begangen zu haben, inklusive eigener Details. DOI:10.1177/0956797614562862

Sep 14, 2020 · 6 likes · 6,616 followers View post →
Emma Cosh
@EmmaGCosh · X

@yourewrongabout thank you for being such gorgeous creatures who understand both empathy and statistics. A perfect mix. Also, y'all know it's easy for lithe psychiatrists to create false recovered memories, but did you know *how* easy?! Just 3 interviews. https://t.co/a68QQbXZja

May 21, 2020 · 1,067 followers View post →
Nicolai Berk
@nicolaiberk · X

Random (*somewhat* unethical) study of the week: make people remember crimes they never committed. https://t.co/B0P3dgWIk1

Sep 18, 2019 · 3 likes · 2,406 followers View post →
Colette
@InfraredArmy · X

RT @SilverVVulpes: tired: false crime accusations on your enemies wired: planting false memories of having committed a crime on your enemi…

Sep 2, 2019 · 1 share · 550 followers View post →
Siberian fox
@SilverVVulpes · X

tired: false crime accusations on your enemies wired: planting false memories of having committed a crime on your enemies https://t.co/xACJZZlrWY

Sep 1, 2019 · 10 likes · 1 share · 6,290 followers View post →
Andreas
@AndreasYilma · X

Constructing Rich False Memories of Committing Crime - Julia Shaw, Stephen Porter, 2015 - "When They See Us" https://t.co/aksZHFYWdV

Jun 5, 2019 · 276 followers View post →
Free Clayton Allison
@FreeClayton · X

Think you’d never confess to a crime you didn’t commit? Check out groundbreaking research from Shaw and Porter on constructing rich false memories. https://t.co/q2PyFsPT0I https://t.co/qpfPSvo61E

Mar 8, 2019 · 35 followers View post →