### Question A
Psychoanalytic theory, introduced by Sigmund Freud, suggests that some memories, particularly those associated with trauma or distress, can be repressed into the unconscious mind and later recovered. Conversely, critics argue that these recovered memories might be false, created through the power of suggestion, especially in therapeutic settings. My viewpoint aligns more with the latter perspective, supported by substantial empirical evidence from psychological research.
#### Recovered vs. False Memories
1. **Memory as a Constructive Process**: Research shows that memory is not a perfect recording of past events but rather a reconstructive process. This means our memories can be influenced by subsequent information, emotions, and suggestions. Loftus and Pickrell’s (1995) study on false memories demonstrated how easily people could be led to “remember” events that never occurred through suggestive questioning.
2. **Therapeutic Suggestion**: Therapists can inadvertently suggest false memories to clients. Techniques like guided imagery, hypnosis, and leading questions can implant ideas that patients might later accept as their own memories. This phenomenon was particularly evident during the “recovered memory” movement in the 1980s and 1990s, where many individuals “recovered” memories of traumatic events that were later found to be false (Loftus, 1993).
#### Personal Experience
I recall an instance from my childhood where I was certain I had visited a particular amusement park with my family. I vividly remembered specific rides and even conversations. However, when discussing it with my parents, they informed me that we had never been to that amusement park. I realized that the memory might have been constructed from watching videos or hearing stories from friends who had visited the park. This error in recollection likely resulted from the integration of second-hand information into my own memory narrative, demonstrating how susceptible memory is to external influences.
#### Conclusion
While the idea of repressed and later recovered memories is intriguing, the evidence supporting the malleability of human memory and the potential for creating false memories through suggestion is compelling. Understanding the fallibility of memory is crucial, especially in therapeutic and legal contexts.
### References
– Loftus, E. F., & Pickrell, J. E. (1995). The formation of false memories. *Psychiatric Annals, 25*(12), 720-725.
– Loftus, E. F. (1993). The reality of repressed memories. *American Psychologist, 48*(5), 518-537.
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### Question B
To evaluate the public perception of psychology, I asked three individuals—my roommate, a friend, and my aunt—what they think psychologists do. Here is a summary of their responses and a comparison with the actual scope of psychology as described in Chapter 1 of our textbook.
#### Public Perceptions
1. **Roommate**: “Psychologists help people with mental health issues like depression and anxiety. They provide therapy and counseling.”
2. **Friend**: “Psychologists study human behavior and try to understand why people act the way they do. Some work in schools or with kids.”
3. **Aunt**: “Psychologists can work in hospitals, and they also do research on things like stress and how it affects health.”
#### Comparison with Chapter 1
**What They Got Right**:
– **Therapy and Counseling**: My roommate accurately mentioned the role of psychologists in mental health treatment, which is a significant aspect of clinical psychology.
– **Studying Human Behavior**: My friend noted the research aspect of psychology, which is fundamental to fields like cognitive, developmental, and social psychology.
– **Diverse Work Settings**: My aunt recognized that psychologists can work in various settings, including hospitals and research institutions.
**What They Missed**:
– **Subfields of Psychology**: None mentioned the vast subfields such as industrial-organizational psychology, forensic psychology, or neuropsychology, which extend beyond therapy and basic research.
– **Applied Psychology**: They did not highlight applied areas like human factors, sports psychology, or health psychology, which apply psychological principles to solve real-world problems.
– **Scientific Rigor**: The role of psychologists in conducting rigorous scientific research and contributing to evidence-based practices was underrepresented.
#### Over-representations and Misperceptions
– **Therapeutic Role**: The therapeutic role of psychologists was emphasized, reflecting a common stereotype that psychology is primarily about mental health therapy.
– **Limited Scope**: The responses suggested a limited view of psychology, missing out on its breadth and interdisciplinary applications.
#### Reasons for Misperceptions
– **Media Portrayal**: Popular media often depicts psychologists as therapists, which can skew public perception.
– **Lack of Public Awareness**: The general public may not be exposed to the full range of psychological research and applications unless they are directly involved in the field.
– **Educational Exposure**: People outside the field might only encounter psychology through introductory courses or popular psychology books, which might focus more on clinical aspects.
### Conclusion
The public perception of psychology tends to focus on clinical practice and therapy, overlooking the extensive research and diverse applications within the field. This underscores the need for broader public education and dissemination of information about the full scope of psychological science.
### References
– American Psychological Association. (2019). *Publication manual of the American Psychological Association* (7th ed.). American Psychological Association.
– Stanovich, K. E. (2012). *How to Think Straight About Psychology* (10th ed.). Pearson.
Question A
Psychoanalytic theory suggests that some memories can be so painful, that a person can totally block them from their conscious memory and then later “recover” them; either spontaneously or while receiving therapy. Others argue that these are false memories that can be created through the power of suggestion for some people. Which viewpoint do you agree with and why? Have you had a memory that later turned out to be incorrect? What do you think was the cause of the error in your recollection?
Question B
Public perception of psychology tends not to portray the entire scope of the field. To evaluate this statement please ask three people who are not in this psychology class (e.g., roommates, parents, friends and professors from other fields) what they think psychologists do. Next, compile a list of the ideas and then compare this list to Chapter 1 of the textbook. What did your small sample miss? What did they over-represent? Why do you think these misperceptions exist?
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