Suggestibility

Definition

Suggestibility refers to the tendency of individuals to alter their memories or beliefs based on cues, hints, or suggestions from others. It highlights how external information can influence what people remember, sometimes leading to inaccuracies or false memories.

Example

A group of friends are reminiscing about a past event—a hiking trip where someone claimed to have seen a bear. One friend, Sarah, says she remembers seeing a red jacket near the trail. Another friend, Mike, who wasn’t sure about the jacket initially, starts thinking he also saw it because Sarah mentioned it. This is an example of suggestibility, as Sarah’s comment influenced Mike’s memory.

Why It Matters

Understanding suggestibility is crucial because it shows how easily our memories can be shaped by others’ words or actions. In real-life situations like eyewitness testimony, legal cases, or even everyday conversations, false memories can lead to incorrect conclusions or decisions. Recognizing this phenomenon helps us approach memory recall with caution and consider the potential impact of external influences on what we believe to be true.

See Also

• Memory Reconstruction