False Memories for End-of-Life Decisions

Health Psychology, Vol. 27, No. 2, 291–296, 2008

UC Irvine School of Law Research Paper No. 2009-33

7 Pages Posted: 30 Oct 2009 Last revised: 14 Aug 2010

See all articles by Stefanie J. Sharman

Stefanie J. Sharman

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Maryanne Garry

Victoria University of Wellington, School of Psychology

Jill A. Jacobson

Queen's University

Elizabeth F. Loftus

University of California, Irvine - Department of Psychological Science; University of California, Irvine School of Law

Peter H. Ditto

University of California, Irvine - School of Social Ecology

Abstract

Objective: To examine people’s false memories for end-of-life decisions. Design: In Study 1, older adults decided which life-sustaining treatments they would want if they were seriously ill. They made these judgments twice, approximately 12 months apart. At Time 2, older adults and their self-selected surrogate decision makers tried to recall the older adults’ Time 1 decisions. In Study 2, younger adults made treatment decisions twice, approximately 4 months apart. At Time 2, younger adults tried to recall their Time 1 decisions. Main Outcome Measures: Percentage of participants who falsely remembered that their original treatment decisions were the same as their current decisions. Results: In Study 1, older adults falsely remembered that 75% of their original decisions were the same as their current decisions; surrogates falsely thought that 86% of older adults’ decisions were the same. In Study 2, younger adults falsely remembered that 69% of their original decisions were the same as their current decisions. Conclusion: Age alone cannot account for people’s false memories of their end-of-life decisions; we discuss other mechanisms. The results have practical implications for policies that encourage people to make legal documents specifying their end-of-life treatment decisions.

Suggested Citation

Sharman, Stefanie J. and Garry, Maryanne and Jacobson, Jill A. and Loftus, Elizabeth F. and Ditto, Peter H., False Memories for End-of-Life Decisions. Health Psychology, Vol. 27, No. 2, 291–296, 2008, UC Irvine School of Law Research Paper No. 2009-33, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1496007

Stefanie J. Sharman

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Maryanne Garry

Victoria University of Wellington, School of Psychology ( email )

Room 508, Easterfield Building
Kelburn Pde, Kelbun Campus
Wellington, 6140
New Zealand
04 463 5769 (Phone)
04 463 5402 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.victoria.ac.nz/psyc/staff/maryanne-garry.aspx

Jill A. Jacobson

Queen's University ( email )

Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6
Canada

Elizabeth F. Loftus (Contact Author)

University of California, Irvine - Department of Psychological Science ( email )

4201 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697-7085
United States

University of California, Irvine School of Law

401 E. Peltason Dr.
Ste. 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-1000
United States

Peter H. Ditto

University of California, Irvine - School of Social Ecology ( email )

4312 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway
Irvine, CA 92697
United States

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