Recent studies in cognitive psychology have challenged the traditional view that human memory operates as a passive recording device. Instead, researchers now propose that memory is a reconstructive process, where each act of retrieval is influenced by current knowledge, beliefs, and contextual cues. This dynamic model suggests that memories are not stored as fixed snapshots but are reassembled from distributed neural networks each time they are recalled. Consequently, eyewitness testimony, long considered reliable in legal proceedings, may be subject to significant distortion, especially when suggestive questioning or post-event information is introduced. Such findings have profound implications for both forensic practice and educational methodologies, urging professionals to design procedures that minimize memory contamination.
❓ 文章によると、記憶の再構成的見解が法廷設定において持つ主な含意は何か？
A. 目撃者の証言は常に正確であり、疑いなく信頼されるべきである。
B. 記憶の歪みが生じることがあるため、目撃者の証言は信頼できない場合があり、特に示唆的な質問がなされた場合にはその傾向が強まります。
C. 法律専門家は、記憶が固定されているため、目撃者の証言のみに依存すべきである。
D. イベント後の情報は、記憶がどのように想起されるかに影響を与えません。
✅ 正确答案
Memory distortion can occur, so eyewitness accounts may be unreliable, particularly with suggestive questioning.
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
Watch for paraphrasing; correct answers are often reworded
Be wary of absolute statements (all, always, never) — usually wrong
Pay attention to content after transition words (however, but, yet)
Manage time: about 20 minutes per passage; skip difficult questions first