FIRST-YEAR "DREAM" SEMINARS
Looking at the World with Different Lens
Dr. Shari Berkowitz offers a course on “False Memories and the Law,” which explores the science of how people remember sexual abuse. While some people claim to repress their memories, memory researchers have questioned the validity of such claims. This controversy is known as the “memory wars.” This course also examines how the U.S. legal system handles these cases.
One favorite project for Dr. Berkowitz and her students was to “Plant a False Memory”. Dr. Berkowitz explained, “Students were required to attempt to plant a false memory into a friend or family member's mind.” Wendy describes the process when she planted a false memory on a family member, “Basically, we had to tell them about a false situation that happened long ago and ask them if they remember. We would then see if they fell for our false memory or they didn’t. I thought it was interesting to see how one little suggestion can become something so realistic.” Dr. Berkowitz shared, “I'm impressed that my students were so enthusiastic and excited to work on this project. It was great to see them come up with creative methods to plant their false memories.”
Wendy Percino majoring in Child Development learned a lot about memory wars and is amazed how the brain handles these memories, “It was very interesting how the mind works in many "crazy" ways and I never thought that such things like false memories or repression would have ever existed.” Laura Valadez shared, “I took two psychology courses in high school and both of my teachers had taught me about repressed memories but never mention its lack in credibility.”
Research opens the mind and brings a new outlook and determination than ever before to Angie Maldonado. This semester Angie, a Child Development major enrolled in “The Economics of Discrimination” discusses what she has learned from her research on discrimination, being a minority, equal rights, and the value of an education.
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