Ancient Views of the Self
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum talks about the split among the ancient Greeks between those, like Aristotle, who thought the body was an essential part of the self, and those like Plato, who believed that the body was merely "...a prison house for the ...
Prestige Enhancing Memory Distortions
Experimental psychologist and author Elizabeth Loftus talks about "prestige enhancing memory distortions," and explains that these are sometimes responsible for two people witnessing the same event, but remembering different details.
Post-Event Suggestion
Experimental psychologist and author Elizabeth Loftus talks about the drowning death of her mother and explains how recalling that event brought the subject of memory distortion home to Dr. Loftus and her family years later in a very personal way.
Memory and Videotape Recorders
Experimental psychologist and author Elizabeth Loftus explains that, "...memory does not work like a tape recorder. We don't just record the event and play it back later the way a videotape might work." Instead, Dr. Loftus says, when we are exposed ...
Memory Distortion
Experimental psychologist and author Elizabeth Loftus talks about experiments in which subjects are asked to recall details of a simulated accident they've witnessed. Dr. Loftus explains that, as part of the experiment, a suggestion about what might...
Memory Contamination (Part Two)
Experimental psychologist and author Elizabeth Loftus explains that, while all people are susceptible to memory contamination, children between the ages of three and six appear to be more susceptible than older children and adults.
Remembering Significant Events
Experimental psychologist and author Elizabeth Loftus talks about our ability to remember significant events, even if they took place years earlier. But like any memories, these are subject to change, distortion and contamination.
Repressed Memories
Experimental psychologist and author Elizabeth Loftus is skeptical about cases in which people claim to recall horrific experiences that they've previously repressed. "I believe in many instances they are a product of suggestion, imagination and som...
Memory Contamination (Part One)
Experimental psychologist and author Elizabeth Loftus explains that, "...if you let the memory fade a little bit so it weakens, it then becomes more and more vulnerable to suggestion, to post-event contamination."
False Memories (Part One)
Experimental psychologist and author Elizabeth Loftus talks about the controversy that surrounds the subject of false or repressed memories. "Some insurance companies have refused to insure psychotherapists if they do recovered memory therapy," Dr. ...