The video is about false memories where one remembers things differently from how they were in reality. Memories are both constructive and reconstructive as a person, or other individuals can alter them. Also, it is not possible to separate true memories from false memories, and thus independent corroboration is required. We can plant false memories that affect our behavior after a long period when the memories become permanent.
One factor that affects memory accuracy is when people are fed with misinformation on some event that they may have experienced thereby altering their memories. Misinformation occurs in situations where people are questioned in a leading way such that the inquisitor suggests a different version of an event that in turn makes the respondent to change his recollection of the memory. The speaker offers an example of a survey where witnesses to a simulated road accident are asked questions regarding the incident. When the word "smashed" was used in a question to inquire about the speed of the vehicles; the responders provided a higher value than when the word "Hit" was used. Therefore, people’s memories were changed as a result of the word smashed which implanted the suggestion of a high-speed accident.
Another factor is the exposure to bizarre memories that never existed. For instance, some people who have gone through the services of a psychotherapist acquire new memories which have been implanted by the therapist that alter the original memories.
Zhenliang et al. (2015) suggest that memories can be implanted and become part of the experiences of an individual thereby affecting their attitudes and behavior. Therefore the author agrees with Loftus on the ability to alter people’s memories and further offers the multi-step and associativity model to explain the occurrence (Zhenliang, et al. 2015).
References
Zhenliang, Liu, Liu Tiantian, Han Jiahui, and Mu Shoukuan. "The Implanting of False Memory." Advances in Psychological Science 23, no. 5 (2015): 806-814.
