Anchoring effect induces false memories.

Abstract

While many studies have highlighted the existence of the anchoring effect in a wide variety of domains, no study to date has investigated its impact on memory. The present study aimed to test whether an irrelevant numerical anchor not only influences an estimate but also modifies the memory of the associated event. Two experiments (total N = 259) were conducted, combining the methodology used by Loftus and Palmer (Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 13, 585-589, 1974) and a classic anchoring paradigm. The results show that an irrelevant numerical anchor can modify the estimate of a car's speed and produce false memories of the event. We discuss the link between the processes underlying the anchoring effect and the false memory phenomenon.