Adaptive misbeliefs and false memories

John Sutton*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalComment/opinionpeer-review

    13 Citations (Scopus)
    204 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    McKay & Dennett (M&D) suggest that some positive illusions are adaptive. But there is a bidirectional link between memory and positive illusions: Biased autobiographical memories filter incoming information, and self-enhancing information is preferentially attended and used to update memory. Extending M&D's approach, I ask if certain false memories might be adaptive, defending a broad view of the psychosocial functions of remembering.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)535-536
    Number of pages2
    JournalBehavioral and Brain Sciences
    Volume32
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2009

    Bibliographical note

    Copyright 2009 Cambridge University Press. Article originally published in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Vol. 32, Issue 6, pp. 535-536. The original article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X09991488

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