Processes of remembering generally serve us well, but there are circumstances in which they can lead us to develop a distorted sense of our past. Research into the phenomenon of false memory has increased considerably over the last twenty years, focusing on the implications of distorted memories in legal and therapeutic contexts, and the perhaps less-dramatic consequences for our sense of self and identity. False and Distorted Memories draws on the expertise of leading international researchers to present an up-to-date snapshot of key developments in the field. It will also explore future directions, whilst synthesizing new findings on the causes, contexts and consequences of false memories.

1. Introduction- Robert Nash and James Ost 2. (Mis)remembering Negative Emotional Experiences- Jacinta Oulton and Melanie K. T. Takarangi 3. When Children are the Worst and Best Eyewitnesses- Henry Otgaar, Mark L. Howe, Nathalie Brackmann and Jianqin Wang 4. Photos and Memory- Kimberley A. Wade, Sophie J. Nightingale & Melissa F. Colloff 5. The Past is a Social Construction- Hartmut Blank, Eva Walther and Simon D. Isemann 6. Forced Fabrication and False Eyewitness Memories- Maria S. Zaragoza, Patrick Rich, Eric Rindal and Rachel DeFranco 7. Stories and Movies can Mislead- Elizabeth J. Marsh and Hillary G. Mullet 8. Cognitive Fluency and False Memories- Eryn J. Newman 9. Nonbelieved Memories- Alan Scoboria, Giuliana Mazzoni and Chantal Boucher 10. The Positive Side of Memory Illusions- Mark L. Howe, Emma Threadgold, Samantha Wilkinson, Sarah R. Garner and Linden J. Ball 11. False Memories Matter- Cara Laney and Elizabeth F. Loftus 12. Concluding Remarks- James Ost and Robert A. Nash