Cliff has vivid memories of burning his hand on a birthday candle at his seventh birthday party. But his mother corrects him, saying, "You never burned your hand. But I would tell you at every birthday to be careful of the candles." Which theoretical model best accounts for Cliff's misremembering?
A)Levels of processing theory
B)Decay theory
C)Interference theory
D)Repressed memory theory
E)Constructionist theory

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cliff's misremembering can be best explained by the constructionist theory, which suggests that memories are not exact replicas of past events but are reconstructed and can be influenced by suggestions, beliefs, or other factors. In this case, repeated warnings from his mother about the candles may have led Cliff to construct a false memory of actually burning his hand.

Cliff Has Vivid Memories of Burning His Hand on a Birthday