💾False Memory

Creation and development process of False Memory bias Ontology

ChatGPT exploratory conversation

Give me a definition of "False memory"

False memory refers to a psychological phenomenon where a person recalls something that did not happen or recalls it differently from the way it actually happened. These memories can be vivid and detailed, making them indistinguishable from actual memories of real events to the person recalling them. False memories can be the result of suggestive memory techniques, such as leading questions during a therapy session or police interrogation, but they can also arise spontaneously due to the brain's natural processes of encoding, storing, and retrieving memories. The creation of false memories involves complex interactions between various cognitive processes, including perception, imagination, and social influence. The study of false memories provides valuable insights into the workings of human memory and has significant implications in legal settings, therapy practices, and our understanding of memory's reliability.

Now give me 10 example scenarios of "False memory"

Here are ten scenarios illustrating how false memories might manifest in various contexts:

1. Eyewitness Testimony in Court: An individual vividly recalls seeing a person at the scene of a crime, influenced by repeated questioning and exposure to the suspect's image. Later, it's revealed that this memory was inaccurate, and the person was not present.

2. Childhood Events: Someone remembers being lost in a shopping mall as a child, with detailed memories of the event, after family members recounted the story multiple times. In reality, this event never happened to them; it was either about someone else or entirely fabricated.

3. Academic Cheating Accusation: A teacher falsely remembers a student cheating on a test, influenced by the student's previous behavior and discussions with other teachers. This could lead to unfair disciplinary action based on a memory that does not reflect actual events.

4. Misremembered Relationships: A person might recall a friend or family member saying something hurtful or supportive in a critical moment, only to find out through recordings or third-party accounts that the conversation didn’t happen as remembered, affecting their relationship based on a false premise.

5. Therapy Sessions: During therapy, a client might develop detailed memories of traumatic events that didn't occur, influenced by suggestive questioning or therapeutic techniques aimed at uncovering repressed memories.

6. Product Experiences: Consumers often claim to remember using a product that never existed or recalling an experience with a brand that is significantly different from what actually occurred, influenced by advertising or societal beliefs.

7. Historical Events: People sometimes claim to have vivid memories of where they were or what they were doing during significant historical events that happened before they were born or when they were too young to remember.

8. Alien Abductions: Individuals report detailed memories of being abducted by aliens, often after reading about similar experiences or undergoing hypnosis. These memories are usually vivid but not based on real events.

9. Medical Procedures: Patients may recall being awake during surgery, feeling pain, and hearing conversations, even though they were under general anesthesia and such experiences are highly unlikely.

10. Travel Memories: Someone might recall visiting a specific place during a trip, describing events, sights, and personal experiences that never happened. This could be influenced by seeing photos, hearing stories, or wishing the event had occurred.

These scenarios highlight how false memories can arise from a range of influences, including social pressure, suggestions, and the brain's attempts to fill in gaps in memory. They underscore the complexity of human memory and the importance of critical thinking and verification when recalling past events.

Now create a user story for “Eyewitness Testimony in Court” scenario

User Story: Eyewitness Testimony in Court

Title: The Case of Mistaken Identity

As a: trial lawyer

I want to: demonstrate the unreliability of eyewitness testimony in a court setting

So that: I can ensure a fair trial and prevent the wrongful conviction of my client based on flawed memory recall.

Background:

In the bustling city of New Haven, a jewelry store was robbed at gunpoint. The crime took place in broad daylight, and a passerby, Jane Doe, claimed to have seen the perpetrator flee the scene. Based on her description, John Smith was arrested the following day. John has a similar appearance to the description given by Jane but firmly denies any involvement in the crime. CCTV footage from the area is inconclusive due to the angle and distance of the camera.

Acceptance Criteria:

1. Gather Background Information:

   • Obtain all available evidence from the prosecution, including Jane Doe's statements, the police report on the arrest of John Smith, and any video footage from the crime scene or surrounding areas.

2. Expert Testimony on Memory:

   • Consult with a cognitive psychologist or an expert in memory to provide testimony on how memory can be influenced by stress, leading questions, and the passage of time. This expert will explain the phenomenon of false memories to the jury.

3. Cross-Examination Strategy:

   • Develop a series of questions for Jane Doe that highlight the conditions under which she observed the suspect (e.g., lighting, stress, distance, and her confidence in her recall). Emphasize factors that could have impaired her ability to accurately identify the defendant.

4. Simulate the Scene for the Jury:

   • Use visual aids or a reenactment to demonstrate to the jury the conditions under which the eyewitness made her observations, including any obstacles, lighting conditions, and the distance from which she viewed the suspect.

5. Introduce Alternative Evidence:

   • Present any alibis, testimonies, or evidence that corroborates John Smith's whereabouts at the time of the crime, challenging the reliability of the eyewitness account as the sole basis for his identification as the suspect.

6. Closing Arguments:

   • In closing arguments, emphasize the fallibility of human memory and the danger of convicting someone based on eyewitness testimony alone, especially when it conflicts with other evidence.

Goal:

The overarching goal is to ensure that the jury understands the complexities and potential inaccuracies of eyewitness testimony, promoting a fair deliberation process based on the entirety of the evidence, not just the identification made by one individual under potentially stressful and imperfect conditions. This approach seeks to protect the integrity of the judicial process and prevent the miscarriage of justice.

Now if you should make an ontology of the "False memory", what classes and properties would you create?

Creating an ontology for "False Memory" involves outlining a structured framework of concepts related to false memories, their causes, contexts in which they occur, and their implications. Here's a basic outline of classes and properties that could form part of this ontology:

Classes:

1. False Memory

   • Description: A memory that is a distorted recollection of an event or a fabrication of an event that never occurred.

2. Cause

   • Description: Factors that contribute to the formation of false memories.

3. Context

   • Description: Situations or environments in which false memories are likely to be formed or recalled.

4. Effect

   • Description: The impact or consequences of false memories on individuals and society.

5. Prevention

   • Description: Strategies or practices aimed at reducing the occurrence of false memories.

6. Correction

   • Description: Methods used to identify and correct false memories.

7. Individual

   • Description: A person who experiences, reports, or is affected by false memories.

8. Event

   • Description: A specific occurrence that is either misremembered or entirely fabricated in a false memory.

9. Evidence

   • Description: Information or data used to support or refute the accuracy of a memory.

10. Memory Test

    • Description: Tools or techniques used to assess the accuracy of memories and identify false ones.

Properties:

1. hasCause

   • Domain: False Memory

   • Range: Cause

2. occursInContext

   • Domain: False Memory

   • Range: Context

3. hasEffect

   • Domain: False Memory

   • Range: Effect

4. canBePreventedBy

   • Domain: False Memory

   • Range: Prevention

5. canBeCorrectedBy

   • Domain: False Memory

   • Range: Correction

6. involvesIndividual

   • Domain: False Memory

   • Range: Individual

7. relatesToEvent

   • Domain: False Memory

   • Range: Event

8. isSupportedOrRefutedBy

   • Domain: False Memory

   • Range: Evidence

9. isAssessedBy

   • Domain: False Memory

   • Range: Memory Test

10. hasSymptom

    • Domain: Individual

    • Range: False Memory

11. hasConsequence

    • Domain: Effect

    • Range: Individual, Society

Example Instance:

• False Memory Instance:

  • Name: Jane's Shoplifting Incident

  • hasCause: Suggestive Questioning

  • occursInContext: Legal Investigation

  • hasEffect: Wrongful Accusation

  • involvesIndividual: Jane Doe

  • relatesToEvent: Alleged Shoplifting

  • isSupportedOrRefutedBy: Security Camera Footage

  • canBePreventedBy: Proper Interrogation Techniques

  • canBeCorrectedBy: Review of Evidence

Competency questions

• How can you differentiate between a true memory and a False Memory?

• Why is False Memory bias a concern in legal settings, particularly with eyewitness testimonies?

• What strategies can be used to reduce the influence of False Memory bias in our daily lives?

Classes and Properties we used

classes:

• cbi:FalseMemory; Describes the False Memory bias occurrence

• cbi:Cause; Factors that contribute to the formation of false memories

• cbi:Context; Situations or environments in which false memories are likely to be formed or recalled

• cbi:Effect; The impact or consequences of false memories on individuals and society

• cbi:Prevention; Strategies or practices aimed at reducing the occurrence of false memories

• cbi:Correction; Methods used to identify and correct false memories

• cbi:BiasedAgent; Represents an entity that experiences the bias

• cbi:Evidence; Information or data used to support or refute the accuracy of a memory

• cbi:MemoryTest; Tools or techniques used to assess the accuracy of memories and identify false one

properties:

• cbi:hasCause; Describes the relation between the a Bias and its inherent cause

• cbi:hasEffect; Describes the relation between the bias and its effect

• cbi:canBePreventedBy; Describes the relation between the bias and the prevention techniques to it

• cbi:canBeCorrectedBy; Describes the relation between the bias and the correction to enact

• cbi:hasParticipant; Describes the relation between the Event and the Biased Agent who participate

• cbi:isSupportedOrRefutedBy; Describes the relation between the False Memory and the Evidence

• cbi:isAssessedBy; Describes the relation between the bias and the Memory Test

Chosen Framester Frames

• Event (http://etna.istc.cnr.it/framester2/data/framestercore/Event)

An Event takes place at a Place and Time. Big earthquakes only happen along plate boundaries. INI The party will take place on Sunday in the all-you-can-eat buffet