ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Elizabeth Loftus - False memories scholar
Memory-manipulation expert Elizabeth Loftus explains how our memories might not be what they seem -- and how implanted memories can have real-life repercussions.

Why you should listen

Elizabeth Loftus altered the course of legal history by revealing that memory is not only unreliable, but also mutable. Since the 1970s, Loftus has created an impressive body of scholarly work and has appeared as an expert witness in hundreds of courtrooms, bolstering the cases of defendants facing criminal charges based on eyewitness testimony, and debunking “recovered memory” theories popular at the time, as in her book The Myth of Repressed Memory: False Memories and Allegations of Sexual Abuse (with Katherine Ketcham).

Since then, Loftus has dedicated herself to discovering how false memories can affect our daily lives, leading her to surprising therapeutic applications for memory modification -- including controlling obesity by implanting patients with preferences for healthy foods.

More profile about the speaker
Elizabeth Loftus | Speaker | TED.com
TEDGlobal 2013

Elizabeth Loftus: How reliable is your memory?

伊莉莎白.羅芙托斯 (Elizabeth Loftus): 虛構的記憶

Filmed:
4,637,270 views

心理學家伊莉莎白.羅芙托斯研究記憶,更準確地說,她研究錯誤的記憶:人們記得的是不曾發生過的事,或是和事實不符的事。這種事比你想像中的還常發生,羅芙托斯分享了一些驚人的故事和統計數據,並提出了幾個重要的道德問題,那是我們都應該慎重思考的問題。
- False memories scholar
Memory-manipulation expert Elizabeth Loftus explains how our memories might not be what they seem -- and how implanted memories can have real-life repercussions. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:12
I'd like to tell you about a legal法律 case案件 that I worked工作 on
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我想分享一個我曾處理過的法律案件,
00:16
involving涉及 a man named命名 Steve史蒂夫 Titus泰特斯.
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關於一位名叫史帝芬.提多 (Steven Titus) 的男子。
00:20
Titus泰特斯 was a restaurant餐廳 manager經理.
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提多是一家餐廳的經理,
00:23
He was 31 years年份 old, he lived生活 in Seattle西雅圖, Washington華盛頓,
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那時他 31 歲,住在華盛頓西雅圖,
00:27
he was engaged訂婚 to Gretchen格雷琴,
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他和格麗卿 (Gretchen) 訂了婚,
00:29
about to be married已婚, she was the love of his life.
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即將舉行婚禮,她是他畢生的摯愛。
00:32
And one night, the couple一對 went out
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有天晚上,兩人外出,
00:34
for a romantic浪漫 restaurant餐廳 meal膳食.
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去餐廳享用浪漫的晚餐,
00:37
They were on their way home,
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在他們回家的路上,
00:39
and they were pulled over by a police警察 officer.
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被警察攔了下來。
00:42
You see, Titus'泰特斯“ car汽車 sort分類 of resembled相似
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提多的車有點類似
00:45
a car汽車 that was driven驅動 earlier in the evening晚間
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那天傍晚出現的另一部車,
00:49
by a man who raped強姦 a female hitchhiker短篇廣告,
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那台車的司機性侵了搭便車的女子,
00:52
and Titus泰特斯 kind of resembled相似 that rapist強姦犯.
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而提多和這名強暴犯長得有點像,
00:56
So the police警察 took a picture圖片 of Titus泰特斯,
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因此警察拍了一張提多的相片,
00:59
they put it in a photo照片 lineup排隊,
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把相片放在相冊裡,
01:01
they later後來 showed顯示 it to the victim受害者,
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讓被害人指認。
01:03
and she pointed to Titus'泰特斯“ photo照片.
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被害人指著提多的照片,
01:06
She said, "That one's那些 the closest最近的."
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她說:「這個人最像。」
01:09
The police警察 and the prosecution檢察官 proceeded繼續 with a trial審訊,
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警察和檢察官開始一連串的訊問,
01:13
and when Steve史蒂夫 Titus泰特斯 was put on trial審訊 for rape強姦,
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當史帝芬.提多因為性侵案接受審判時,
01:16
the rape強姦 victim受害者 got on the stand
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被害人站上證人席,
01:19
and said, "I'm absolutely絕對 positive that's the man."
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她說:「我確定他就是那個男人。」
01:23
And Titus泰特斯 was convicted被定罪.
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因此提多被宣判有罪,
01:26
He proclaimed宣稱的 his innocence無辜,
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他宣稱自己是無辜的,
01:28
his family家庭 screamed尖叫 at the jury陪審團,
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他的家人對著評審團尖叫,
01:30
his fianc未婚夫ée collapsed倒塌 on the floor地板 sobbing抽泣,
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未婚妻哭倒在地,
01:33
and Titus泰特斯 is taken採取 away to jail監獄.
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而提多被送往監獄。
01:37
So what would you do at this point?
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這個時候你會怎麼做?
01:40
What would you do?
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你會怎麼做?
01:42
Well, Titus泰特斯 lost丟失 complete完成 faith信仰 in the legal法律 system系統,
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提多不再信任司法制度,
01:46
and yet然而 he got an idea理念.
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但他靈光一閃,
01:48
He called up the local本地 newspaper報紙,
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打電話給當地報社,
01:50
he got the interest利益 of an investigative研究 journalist記者,
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引起一位調查記者的興趣。
01:53
and that journalist記者 actually其實 found發現 the real真實 rapist強姦犯,
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這名記者後來確實找到了真兇,
01:58
a man who ultimately最終 confessed供認不諱 to this rape強姦,
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這名男子後來承認犯罪,
02:01
a man who was thought to have committed提交 50 rapes強姦
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他被指控犯了 50 起強暴罪,
02:05
in that area,
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就在那個地區裡,
02:06
and when this information信息 was given特定 to the judge法官,
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這個消息傳到法官耳裡,
02:09
the judge法官 set Titus泰特斯 free自由.
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法官便釋放了提多。
02:12
And really, that's where this case案件 should have ended結束.
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事實上,案子應該就此結束,
02:16
It should have been over.
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事情應該就停在這裡,
02:17
Titus泰特斯 should have thought of this as a horrible可怕 year,
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提多應該要覺得這一年糟透了,
02:20
a year of accusation指控 and trial審訊, but over.
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歷經一年的指控和審判,但終於結束了,
02:24
It didn't end結束 that way.
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但事情並沒有結束,
02:26
Titus泰特斯 was so bitter.
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提多感到非常痛苦,
02:28
He'd他會 lost丟失 his job工作. He couldn't不能 get it back.
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他失去了工作,無法復職,
02:31
He lost丟失 his fianc未婚夫ée.
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他失去了未婚妻,
02:33
She couldn't不能 put up with his persistent一貫 anger憤怒.
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她無法忍受他毫無止境的怒火,
02:36
He lost丟失 his entire整個 savings,
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他花光了所有積蓄,
02:38
and so he decided決定 to file文件 a lawsuit訴訟
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因此他打算打官司,
02:41
against反對 the police警察 and others其他 whom he felt
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控告警察和一些人,
02:43
were responsible主管 for his suffering痛苦.
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那些他認為需要為他的苦難負責的人。
02:45
And that's when I really started開始 working加工 on this case案件,
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那是我開始接觸這件案子的時間點,
02:50
trying to figure數字 out
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試著去理解,
02:52
how did that victim受害者 go from
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為何受害者最初的想法,
02:54
"That one's那些 the closest最近的"
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「那是最像的一個」
02:56
to "I'm absolutely絕對 positive that's the guy."
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變成「絕對是這個傢伙」。
03:00
Well, Titus泰特斯 was consumed消費 with his civil國內 case案件.
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提多全神貫注在他的官司上,
03:04
He spent花費 every一切 waking醒來 moment時刻 thinking思維 about it,
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他每天一睜開眼就開始思考這件事,
03:07
and just days before he was to have his day in court法庭,
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就在要上法庭的前幾天,
03:11
he woke醒來 up in the morning早上,
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他在早上起床時
03:13
doubled翻倍 over in pain疼痛,
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忍受著雙倍的疼痛,
03:15
and died死亡 of a stress-related與壓力有關 heart attack攻擊.
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最後死於壓力引起的心臟病,
03:18
He was 35 years年份 old.
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那時他才 35 歲。
03:21
So I was asked to work on Titus'泰特斯“ case案件
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因此,我被派來研究提多的案子,
03:26
because I'm a psychological心理 scientist科學家.
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因為我是心理學家,
03:28
I study研究 memory記憶. I've studied研究 memory記憶 for decades幾十年.
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我研究記憶已有數十年之久。
03:32
And if I meet遇到 somebody on an airplane飛機 --
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如果在飛機上有人問我
03:35
this happened發生 on the way over to Scotland蘇格蘭 --
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──這事才發生在往蘇格蘭的途中──
03:37
if I meet遇到 somebody on an airplane飛機,
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如果我在機上碰到某個人,
03:39
and we ask each other, "What do you do? What do you do?"
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我們會問彼此:「你做什麼工作?」
03:42
and I say "I study研究 memory記憶,"
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我說:「我研究記憶。」
03:44
they usually平時 want to tell me how they have trouble麻煩 remembering記憶 names,
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通常人們會想跟我說他們很難記住名字,
03:47
or they've他們已經 got a relative相對的 who's誰是 got Alzheimer's老年癡呆症
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或是他們的親友患有阿茲海默症,
03:50
or some kind of memory記憶 problem問題,
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或是一些記憶上的問題,
03:52
but I have to tell them
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但是我必須告訴他們,
03:54
I don't study研究 when people forget忘記.
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我研究的不是人遺忘了什麼,
03:58
I study研究 the opposite對面: when they remember記得,
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我研究的是相反的事:是人記得了什麼,
04:01
when they remember記得 things that didn't happen發生
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他們記得從沒發生過的事,
04:03
or remember記得 things that were different不同
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或是他們記得不同的事,
04:05
from the way they really were.
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和事實不同的事。
04:07
I study研究 false memories回憶.
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我研究的是錯誤記憶,
04:12
Unhappily不幸的是, Steve史蒂夫 Titus泰特斯 is not the only person
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不幸的是,史帝芬.提多不是唯一一位
04:16
to be convicted被定罪 based基於 on somebody's某人的 false memory記憶.
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受到某人錯誤記憶而被指控的人。
04:21
In one project項目 in the United聯合的 States狀態,
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美國有一項計畫顯示,
04:24
information信息 has been gathered雲集
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搜集到的資訊證明
04:26
on 300 innocent無辜 people,
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有 300 名無辜的人,
04:30
300 defendants被告 who were convicted被定罪 of crimes犯罪 they didn't do.
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300 名被告受到莫虛有的指控。
04:34
They spent花費 10, 20, 30 years年份 in prison監獄 for these crimes犯罪,
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他們因為那些罪行,
在監獄裡耗了 10、20、30 年。
04:39
and now DNA脫氧核糖核酸 testing測試 has proven證明
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現在 DNA 鑑定已經證實
04:42
that they are actually其實 innocent無辜.
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他們其實是無辜的,
04:45
And when those cases have been analyzed分析,
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分析那些案子後發現
04:47
three quarters住處 of them
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其中有 3/4 的人
04:49
are due應有 to faulty不完善的 memory記憶, faulty不完善的 eyewitness目擊者 memory記憶.
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都是由於錯誤的記憶、
錯誤的指證記憶而被誤判。
04:55
Well, why?
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為什麼呢?
04:56
Like the jurors陪審員 who convicted被定罪 those innocent無辜 people
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就像是陪審團宣告那些無辜的人有罪,
05:00
and the jurors陪審員 who convicted被定罪 Titus泰特斯,
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陪審團也宣告提多有罪,
05:02
many許多 people believe that memory記憶
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許多人相信記憶,
05:04
works作品 like a recording記錄 device設備.
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就像錄影的儀器一樣,
05:06
You just record記錄 the information信息,
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你只要錄下資訊,
05:08
then you call it up and play it back
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然後調出檔案就能重播,
05:11
when you want to answer回答 questions問題 or identify鑑定 images圖片.
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只要你想要回答問題或是辨別影像。
05:14
But decades幾十年 of work in psychology心理學
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但是心理學研究此事數十年,
05:16
has shown顯示 that this just isn't true真正.
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已顯示了那並非事實。
05:20
Our memories回憶 are constructive建設性.
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我們的記憶是可建構的,
05:22
They're reconstructive重建.
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是可以改造的,
05:24
Memory記憶 works作品 a little bit more like a Wikipedia維基百科 page:
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記憶的運作方式有點像維基百科,
05:27
You can go in there and change更改 it, but so can other people.
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你可以更改裡面的資訊,但其他人也可以。
05:32
I first started開始 studying研究 this constructive建設性 memory記憶 process處理
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我首次研究這個可建構的記憶過程,
05:37
in the 1970s.
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是在 1970 年代。
05:40
I did my experiments實驗 that involved參與 showing展示 people
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我的實驗是向許多人展示
05:44
simulated模擬 crimes犯罪 and accidents事故
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模擬的犯罪和意外場景,
05:47
and asking them questions問題 about what they remember記得.
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然後詢問他們記得什麼。
05:50
In one study研究, we showed顯示 people a simulated模擬 accident事故
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在一次研究中,我們給受試者看模擬的意外場景,
05:54
and we asked people,
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然後問他們:
05:56
how fast快速 were the cars汽車 going when they hit擊中 each other?
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這兩台車碰撞的時候速度有多快?
05:58
And we asked other people,
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然後再問其他人:
06:00
how fast快速 were the cars汽車 going when they smashed被砸 into each other?
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這兩台車猛烈撞擊的時候速度有多快?
06:04
And if we asked the leading領導 "smashed被砸" question,
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如果我們用的是「猛烈撞擊」的問句,
06:07
the witnesses目擊者 told us the cars汽車 were going faster更快,
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目擊者會回答的車速較快。
06:10
and moreover此外, that leading領導 "smashed被砸" question
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如果我們用的是「猛烈撞擊」的問句,
06:14
caused造成 people to be more likely容易 to tell us
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會讓受試者更傾向回答,
06:17
that they saw broken破碎 glass玻璃 in the accident事故 scene現場
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他們在意外場景中看見碎玻璃,
06:20
when there wasn't any broken破碎 glass玻璃 at all.
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但事實上根本沒有碎玻璃。
06:24
In another另一個 study研究, we showed顯示 a simulated模擬 accident事故
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在另一次的研究,模擬的意外現場中,
06:27
where a car汽車 went through通過 an intersection路口 with a stop sign標誌,
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有一台車穿越有「暫停」標誌的十字路口,
06:30
and if we asked a question that insinuated含沙射影 it was a yield產量 sign標誌,
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如果我們的問題暗示現場有「禮讓」標誌,
06:35
many許多 witnesses目擊者 told us they remember記得 seeing眼看 a yield產量 sign標誌
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許多目擊者會回答他們有看到「禮讓」標誌,
06:39
at the intersection路口, not a stop sign標誌.
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在十字路口,而不是「暫停」標誌,
06:43
And you might威力 be thinking思維, well, you know,
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你可能會想
06:45
these are filmed拍攝 events事件,
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這些只是影片,
06:46
they are not particularly尤其 stressful壓力.
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沒什麼壓力,
06:48
Would the same相同 kind of mistakes錯誤 be made製作
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同樣的錯誤會出現在
06:51
with a really stressful壓力 event事件?
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讓人有壓力的真實場景嗎?
06:54
In a study研究 we published發表 just a few少數 months個月 ago,
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幾個月前我們才公佈的一份研究顯示,
06:57
we have an answer回答 to this question,
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我們找到這個問題的解答,
06:59
because what was unusual異常 about this study研究
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因為這份研究和以往不同的是,
07:02
is we arranged安排 for people to have a very stressful壓力 experience經驗.
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我們讓受試者體驗的,是很有壓力的場景。
07:07
The subjects主題 in this study研究
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這個研究的實驗對象
07:10
were members會員 of the U.S. military軍事
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是美國退役軍人,
07:12
who were undergoing經歷 a harrowing悲慘 training訓練 exercise行使
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他們經歷過非常恐怖的操練演習,
07:17
to teach them what it's going to be like for them
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讓他們知道如果成為戰俘,
07:19
if they are ever captured捕獲 as prisoners囚犯 of war戰爭.
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可能會碰到什麼情形。
07:23
And as part部分 of this training訓練 exercise行使,
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由於這是操練演習的一部分,
07:26
these soldiers士兵 are interrogated審問 in an aggressive侵略性,
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這些土兵被審問時面對的是挑釁的,
07:29
hostile敵對, physically物理 abusive濫用的 fashion時尚 for 30 minutes分鐘
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充滿敵意的身體凌辱,歷時半小時,
07:34
and later後來 on they have to try to identify鑑定
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之後他們要試著指認
07:37
the person who conducted進行 that interrogation問診.
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誰是那場審問的指揮者。
07:40
And when we feed飼料 them suggestive提示 information信息
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當我們暗示他們
07:44
that insinuates影射 it's a different不同 person,
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那是不一樣的人,
07:47
many許多 of them misidentify誤認 their interrogator詢問,
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大部分的人會指認錯誤的訊問者,
07:51
often經常 identifying識別 someone有人 who doesn't even remotely遠程
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甚至經常會是和真正的訊問者
07:55
resemble類似 the real真實 interrogator詢問.
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看起來不太相似的人。
07:58
And so what these studies學習 are showing展示
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這份研究顯示,
08:00
is that when you feed飼料 people misinformation誤傳
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當你提供給人們錯誤的資訊,
08:04
about some experience經驗 that they may可能 have had,
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是他們可能有過的經驗,
08:07
you can distort歪曲 or contaminate污染 or change更改 their memory記憶.
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你可以扭曲、誤導或改變他們的記憶。
08:13
Well out there in the real真實 world世界,
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在記憶之外的真實世界中,
08:15
misinformation誤傳 is everywhere到處.
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錯誤的資訊無所不在。
08:18
We get misinformation誤傳
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我們收到錯誤的訊息,
08:19
not only if we're questioned質疑 in a leading領導 way,
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不只是我們被有意地引導詢問,
08:22
but if we talk to other witnesses目擊者
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還有如果其他的證人
08:25
who might威力 consciously自覺 or inadvertently不經意間 feed飼料 us
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在有意無意間透露出
08:28
some erroneous錯誤 information信息,
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一些錯誤的訊息,
08:30
or if we see media媒體 coverage覆蓋 about some event事件 we might威力 have experienced有經驗的,
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或是我們看到媒體報導
關於我們可能曾有過的經驗,
08:35
all of these provide提供 the opportunity機會
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所有這些經驗都會製造機會
08:37
for this kind of contamination污染 of our memory記憶.
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來誤導我們的記憶。
08:42
In the 1990s, we began開始 to see
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在 1990 年代,我們開始檢視
08:46
an even more extreme極端 kind of memory記憶 problem問題.
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更極端的記憶問題。
08:50
Some patients耐心 were going into therapy治療 with one problem問題 --
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有些病人因為某些問題正在接受治療,
08:53
maybe they had depression蕭條, an eating disorder紊亂 --
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他們可能患有憂鬱症、飲食失調,
08:56
and they were coming未來 out of therapy治療
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他們接受治療,
08:59
with a different不同 problem問題.
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都是因為不同的問題。
09:02
Extreme極端 memories回憶 for horrific可怕的 brutalizationsbrutalizations,
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針對恐怖殘酷的極端記憶,
09:05
sometimes有時 in satanic撒旦 rituals儀式,
175
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有時候是在極度邪惡的儀式中,
09:07
sometimes有時 involving涉及 really bizarre奇異的 and unusual異常 elements分子.
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有時候包含了真的非常奇怪、不尋常的元素,
09:12
One woman女人 came來了 out of psychotherapy心理治療
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有一位女士接受了心理治療,
09:15
believing相信 that she'd endured忍受 years年份
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因為她相信自己已經
09:17
of ritualistic儀式 abuse濫用, where she was forced被迫 into a pregnancy懷孕
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忍受多年經常性的虐待,她曾被迫懷孕,
09:21
and that the baby寶寶 was cut from her belly肚皮.
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而且寶寶從她的肚子被切下來。
09:24
But there were no physical物理 scars傷疤
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但是在她的身上看不出任何疤痕,
09:26
or any kind of physical物理 evidence證據
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或是任何身體上的證據
09:28
that could have supported支持的 her story故事.
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能夠證明她的故事是真的。
09:31
And when I began開始 looking into these cases,
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當我開始研究這些案件,
09:34
I was wondering想知道,
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我感到疑惑,
09:35
where do these bizarre奇異的 memories回憶 come from?
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這些奇怪的記憶究竟從何而來?
09:38
And what I found發現 is that most of these situations情況
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我發現大部分的情況
09:42
involved參與 some particular特定 form形成 of psychotherapy心理治療.
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都包含了某種形式的心理治療。
09:47
And so I asked,
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因此我提出了
09:49
were some of the things going on in this psychotherapy心理治療 --
190
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是否在這種心理治療中發生了什麼事─
09:52
like the imagination想像力 exercises演習
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例如想像練習,
09:55
or dream夢想 interpretation解釋,
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夢境解析,
09:57
or in some cases hypnosis催眠,
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或某些案例中的催眠,
10:00
or in some cases exposure曝光 to false information信息 --
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或接收到錯誤訊息─
10:03
were these leading領導 these patients耐心
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是這些事讓病人
10:06
to develop發展 these very bizarre奇異的,
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產生非常奇怪
10:09
unlikely不會 memories回憶?
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又不真實的記憶嗎?
10:12
And I designed設計 some experiments實驗
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因此我設計了一些實驗,
10:14
to try to study研究 the processes流程 that were being存在 used
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試著研究心理治療使用的療程,
10:19
in this psychotherapy心理治療 so I could study研究
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因此我就能研究
10:22
the development發展 of these very rich豐富 false memories回憶.
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這些大量的錯誤記憶是如何形成的。
10:26
In one of the first studies學習 we did,
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在早期我們做的某個實驗中,
10:28
we used suggestion建議,
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我們使用了暗示,
10:30
a method方法 inspired啟發 by the psychotherapy心理治療 we saw in these cases,
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在上述案例中運用了這種心理治療法,
10:34
we used this kind of suggestion建議
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我們用這種暗示療法
10:36
and planted種植的 a false memory記憶
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植入錯誤的記憶:
10:38
that when you were a kid孩子, five or six years年份 old,
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當你還是個五、六歲的孩子時,
10:41
you were lost丟失 in a shopping購物 mall購物中心.
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你在購物中心走失了,
10:44
You were frightened受驚. You were crying哭了.
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你很害怕,開始大哭,
10:46
You were ultimately最終 rescued獲救 by an elderly老年 person
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最後有一位大人前來協助,
10:49
and reunited重聚 with the family家庭.
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讓你和家人團聚了。
10:51
And we succeeded成功 in planting種植 this memory記憶
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我們成功地植入這個記憶,
10:53
in the minds頭腦 of about a quarter25美分硬幣 of our subjects主題.
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4106
成功植入約 1/4 研究對象的心裡。
10:57
And you might威力 be thinking思維, well,
214
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2005
你可能會想
10:59
that's not particularly尤其 stressful壓力.
215
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聽起來不太有壓力,
11:02
But we and other investigators調查 have planted種植的
216
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但我們和其他研究員也試過植入
11:05
rich豐富 false memories回憶 of things that were
217
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大量錯誤的記憶,
11:08
much more unusual異常 and much more stressful壓力.
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那些記憶更加不尋常且更有壓力。
11:11
So in a study研究 doneDONE in Tennessee田納西,
219
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2539
在田納西州有一項研究,
11:13
researchers研究人員 planted種植的 the false memory記憶
220
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2416
研究員植入錯誤的記憶,
11:16
that when you were a kid孩子, you nearly幾乎 drowned淹死的
221
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2574
讓你誤以為自己還小時曾差點溺死,
11:18
and had to be rescued獲救 by a life guard守衛.
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然後被救生員救了起來。
11:21
And in a study研究 doneDONE in Canada加拿大,
223
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在加拿大有項研究,
11:23
researchers研究人員 planted種植的 the false memory記憶
224
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研究員植入錯誤的記憶,
11:25
that when you were a kid孩子,
225
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讓你誤以為當你還小的時候
11:27
something as awful可怕 as being存在 attacked襲擊 by a vicious惡毒 animal動物
226
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發生了某件恐怖的事,
11:30
happened發生 to you,
227
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類似被猛獸攻擊一樣恐怖的事,
11:32
succeeding下一 with about half of their subjects主題.
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幾乎半數的實驗對象都植入成功。
11:35
And in a study研究 doneDONE in Italy意大利,
229
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2352
在義大利有項研究,
11:38
researchers研究人員 planted種植的 the false memory記憶,
230
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2658
研究員植入錯誤的記憶,
11:40
when you were a kid孩子, you witnessed目擊 demonic惡魔的 possession所有權.
231
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5212
讓你誤以為當你還小時目擊了邪魔附體。
11:45
I do want to add that it might威力 seem似乎
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我想補充說明一下,
11:48
like we are traumatizing創傷 these experimental試驗 subjects主題
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這聽起來像是我們以科學之名,
11:51
in the name名稱 of science科學,
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讓這些實驗對象受到創傷,
11:53
but our studies學習 have gone走了 through通過 thorough徹底 evaluation評測
235
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但是我們的研究已通過完整的評估,
11:58
by research研究 ethics倫理 boards
236
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研究倫理委員會
12:00
that have made製作 the decision決定
237
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曾通過一項決議:
12:02
that the temporary臨時 discomfort不舒服 that some
238
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暫時性的不舒適感
12:05
of these subjects主題 might威力 experience經驗 in these studies學習
239
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3084
可能會產生在實驗對象身上,
12:08
is outweighed抵銷 by the importance重要性 of this problem問題
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但是更重要的是
12:12
for understanding理解 memory記憶 processes流程
241
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能夠了解記憶的形成,
12:15
and the abuse濫用 of memory記憶 that is going on
242
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3346
以及了解世界上某些地方
12:18
in some places地方 in the world世界.
243
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3293
正在發生的記憶濫用問題。
12:22
Well, to my surprise,
244
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3038
讓我訝異的是,
12:25
when I published發表 this work and began開始 to speak說話 out
245
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3429
當我發表這項研究,並開始對外說明
12:28
against反對 this particular特定 brand of psychotherapy心理治療,
246
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3895
這個和心理治療相違背的特殊情形時,
12:32
it created創建 some pretty漂亮 bad problems問題 for me:
247
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其實讓我惹了一些麻煩:
12:36
hostilities敵對行動, primarily主要 from the repressed壓抑 memory記憶 therapists治療師,
248
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4901
敵意,主要是來自壓抑記憶治療師,
12:41
who felt under attack攻擊,
249
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他們感到四面受敵,
12:43
and by the patients耐心 whom they had influenced影響.
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來自那些曾被他們影響的病人,
12:46
I had sometimes有時 armed武裝 guards衛士 at speeches演講
251
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有時候會有一些警衛在
12:49
that I was invited邀請 to give,
252
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1905
我受邀的演講現場,
12:51
people trying to drum up letter-writing寫信 campaigns活動 to get me fired解僱.
253
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有人想利用投書活動讓我丟掉工作,
12:55
But probably大概 the worst最差
254
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1981
但最糟糕的可能是
12:57
was I suspected嫌疑 that a woman女人
255
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2767
我懷疑有位女性
13:00
was innocent無辜 of abuse濫用
256
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2424
其實是無辜的,
13:02
that was being存在 claimed聲稱 by her grown長大的 daughter女兒.
257
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2836
她的成年女兒卻聲稱受她虐待,
13:05
She accused被告 her mother母親 of sexual有性 abuse濫用
258
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3417
她指控母親對她性侵,
13:09
based基於 on a repressed壓抑 memory記憶.
259
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1859
而她根據的是受壓抑的記憶,
13:11
And this accusing指責 daughter女兒 had actually其實 allowed允許 her story故事
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提告的女兒後來還將自己的故事
13:13
to be filmed拍攝 and presented呈現 in public上市 places地方.
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拍成電影並公開播放。
13:17
I was suspicious可疑 of this story故事,
262
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2509
我懷疑這個故事的真實性,
13:19
and so I started開始 to investigate調查,
263
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2300
因此我開始著手調查,
13:22
and eventually終於 found發現 information信息 that convinced相信 me
264
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4483
最後發現了一項證據,讓我相信
13:26
that this mother母親 was innocent無辜.
265
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這位母親是無辜的。
13:28
I published發表 an expos博覽會é on the case案件,
266
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我公開揭露了這個案件,
13:31
and a little while later後來, the accusing指責 daughter女兒
267
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3444
一陣子過後,那位控告的女兒
13:35
filed提交 a lawsuit訴訟.
268
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對我提告。
13:36
Even though雖然 I'd never mentioned提到 her name名稱,
269
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即使我從未說出她的姓名,
13:39
she sued起訴 me for defamation誹謗 and invasion侵入 of privacy隱私.
270
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她還是控告我誹謗和侵犯隱私權。
13:43
And I went through通過 nearly幾乎 five years年份
271
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2723
我幾乎花了五年
13:46
of dealing交易 with this messy, unpleasant不愉快 litigation訴訟,
272
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6552
處理這個麻煩又不愉快的訴訟,
13:52
but finally最後, finally最後, it was over and I could really
273
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3674
但是最後終於結束了,我可以真正地
13:56
get back to my work.
274
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回到工作崗位上。
13:58
In the process處理, however然而, I became成為 part部分
275
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2485
在這整個過程中,雖然我成為
14:01
of a disturbing煩擾的 trend趨勢 in America美國
276
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2654
美國的亂源之一,
14:04
where scientists科學家們 are being存在 sued起訴
277
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在國內,科學家會被控告,
14:06
for simply只是 speaking請講 out on matters事項 of great public上市 controversy爭議.
278
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4599
只因為他們說出和主流社會認知不同的事情。
14:10
When I got back to my work, I asked this question:
279
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3358
當我回到工作後,我問了這個問題:
14:14
if I plant a false memory記憶 in your mind心神,
280
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如果我在你的心裡植入錯誤的記憶
14:16
does it have repercussions反響?
281
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1844
會有影響嗎?
14:18
Does it affect影響 your later後來 thoughts思念,
282
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1959
那會影響你未來的思想
14:20
your later後來 behaviors行為?
283
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2101
和將來的行為嗎?
14:22
Our first study研究 planted種植的 a false memory記憶
284
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2027
我們的首次研究報告植入了錯誤的記憶,
14:24
that you got sick生病 as a child兒童 eating certain某些 foods食品:
285
852523
3326
讓你認為你小時候生了病,是因為吃了特定食物:
14:27
hard-boiled煮硬 eggs, dill蒔蘿 pickles泡菜, strawberry草莓 ice cream奶油.
286
855849
2999
水煮蛋、酸黃瓜、草莓冰淇淋。
14:30
And we found發現 that once一旦 we planted種植的 this false memory記憶,
287
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我們發現只要植入這個錯誤的記憶,
14:34
people didn't want to eat the foods食品 as much
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受試者就不會那麼想吃這些食物,
14:36
at an outdoor戶外 picnic野餐.
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在戶外野餐的時候。
14:38
The false memories回憶 aren't necessarily一定 bad or unpleasant不愉快.
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錯誤的記憶不一定是不好或是不愉快的。
14:42
If we planted種植的 a warm, fuzzy模糊 memory記憶
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如果我植入了一個溫暖、舒適的記憶
14:44
involving涉及 a healthy健康 food餐飲 like asparagus蘆筍,
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與蘆筍這類健康食物有關,
14:48
we could get people to want to eat asparagus蘆筍 more.
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就能讓大家多吃一點蘆筍。
14:51
And so what these studies學習 are showing展示
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這些研究報告顯示,
14:53
is that you can plant false memories回憶
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你能夠植入錯誤的記憶,
14:55
and they have repercussions反響
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而且這些記憶會造成影響,
14:57
that affect影響 behavior行為 long after the memories回憶 take hold保持.
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只要記憶已形成,就會影響行為。
15:02
Well, along沿 with this ability能力
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由於這個可能性,
15:04
to plant memories回憶 and control控制 behavior行為
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植入記憶和控制行為的能力
15:07
obviously明顯 come some important重要 ethical合乎道德的 issues問題,
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顯然有很大的道德問題,
15:11
like, when should we use this mind心神 technology技術?
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比如說,我們什麼時候可以用這項心智科技?
15:15
And should we ever ban禁止 its use?
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我們是否應該禁止使用這項能力?
15:18
Therapists治療師 can't ethically道德 plant false memories回憶
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在道德上,治療師不能將錯誤的記憶
15:21
in the mind心神 of their patients耐心
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植入病人的心裡,
15:23
even if it would help the patient患者,
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即使這麼做可以幫助病人,
15:25
but there's nothing to stop a parent
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但是卻沒有辦法阻止家長
15:27
from trying this out on their overweight超重 or obese肥胖 teenager青少年.
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讓他們過重或肥胖的
青少年孩子嘗試這個方式。
15:31
And when I suggested建議 this publicly公然,
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當我公開建議這件事,
15:34
it created創建 an outcry喊叫 again.
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又再次引發強烈的抗議,
15:37
"There she goes. She's advocating主張 that parents父母 lie謊言 to their children孩子."
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「她又來了,她鼓勵家長對孩子說謊。」
15:41
Hello你好, Santa聖誕老人 Claus克勞斯. (Laughter笑聲)
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哈囉!聖誕老公公(笑聲)。
15:43
I mean, another另一個 way to think about this is,
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我的意思是,換個方式思考這件事,
15:53
which哪一個 would you rather have,
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用你不曾有過的想法,
15:55
a kid孩子 with obesity肥胖, diabetes糖尿病, shortened縮短 lifespan壽命,
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你希望孩子有肥胖、糖尿病、提早面臨死亡,
15:58
all the things that go with it,
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或是其它相關問題,
16:00
or a kid孩子 with one little extra額外 bit of false memory記憶?
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還是只有一點錯誤記憶的孩子?
16:03
I know what I would choose選擇 for a kid孩子 of mine.
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我知道我會怎麼為自己的孩子選擇,
16:06
But maybe my work has made製作 me different不同 from most people.
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但也許我的工作讓我有不同於大眾的思維。
16:10
Most people cherish珍視 their memories回憶,
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大部分的人很珍惜自己的記憶,
16:12
know that they represent代表 their identity身分,
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他們知道那象徵著身分,
16:14
who they are, where they came來了 from.
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他們是誰,來自何方。
16:16
And I appreciate欣賞 that. I feel that way too.
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我認同,我也這麼想。
16:19
But I know from my work
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但是從我的工作中
16:21
how much fiction小說 is already已經 in there.
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有多少幻象早已存在那裡。
16:26
If I've learned學到了 anything from these decades幾十年
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這幾十年來我已經了解
16:28
of working加工 on these problems問題, it's this:
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要如何解決這些問題,那就是:
16:31
just because somebody tells告訴 you something
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只因為有人告訴你某件事,
16:33
and they say it with confidence置信度,
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而且他們很確信的告訴你,
16:35
just because they say it with lots of detail詳情,
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只因為他們說了很多細節,
16:37
just because they express表現 emotion情感 when they say it,
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只因為他們在說的時候帶有情緒,
16:40
it doesn't mean that it really happened發生.
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並不代表這件事真的發生過。
16:43
We can't reliably可靠 distinguish區分 true真正 memories回憶 from false memories回憶.
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我們無法確實地分辨真實與錯誤的記憶,
16:47
We need independent獨立 corroboration佐證.
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我們必須自己證實。
16:51
Such這樣 a discovery發現 has made製作 me more tolerant寬容
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這個發現讓我更能忍受
16:54
of the everyday每天 memory記憶 mistakes錯誤
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每天面對記憶錯誤,
16:56
that my friends朋友 and family家庭 members會員 make.
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尤其是親友所犯下的記憶錯誤。
16:59
Such這樣 a discovery發現 might威力 have saved保存 Steve史蒂夫 Titus泰特斯,
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這個發現也許能在當時拯救史帝芬.提多,
17:03
the man whose誰的 whole整個 future未來 was snatched搶走 away
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那個未來人生都被抹殺的男子,
17:07
by a false memory記憶.
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只因為一個錯誤的記憶。
17:09
But meanwhile與此同時, we should all keep in mind心神,
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但同時,我們都應該牢記,
17:12
we'd星期三 do well to,
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我們最好記得,
17:14
that memory記憶, like liberty自由,
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記憶,就像是自由,
17:18
is a fragile脆弱 thing.
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是非常脆弱的。
17:21
Thank you. Thank you.
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謝謝,謝謝。
17:24
Thank you. (Applause掌聲)
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謝謝(掌聲),
17:27
Thanks謝謝 very much. (Applause掌聲)
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非常感謝(掌聲)。
Translated by Marssi Draw
Reviewed by Tingyun Liao

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Elizabeth Loftus - False memories scholar
Memory-manipulation expert Elizabeth Loftus explains how our memories might not be what they seem -- and how implanted memories can have real-life repercussions.

Why you should listen

Elizabeth Loftus altered the course of legal history by revealing that memory is not only unreliable, but also mutable. Since the 1970s, Loftus has created an impressive body of scholarly work and has appeared as an expert witness in hundreds of courtrooms, bolstering the cases of defendants facing criminal charges based on eyewitness testimony, and debunking “recovered memory” theories popular at the time, as in her book The Myth of Repressed Memory: False Memories and Allegations of Sexual Abuse (with Katherine Ketcham).

Since then, Loftus has dedicated herself to discovering how false memories can affect our daily lives, leading her to surprising therapeutic applications for memory modification -- including controlling obesity by implanting patients with preferences for healthy foods.

More profile about the speaker
Elizabeth Loftus | Speaker | TED.com