Fuzzy trace theory: Memory and decision-making in law, medicine, and public health

Abstract

Fuzzy Trace Theory (FTT) is a dual-process theory of memory and decision-making that distinguishes two types of mental representations – gist and verbatim – which are encoded simultaneously. These representations have different characteristics; the representation relied on when making decisions influences the way that decisions are made. Through distinguishing gist and verbatim representations, FTT explains known effects, but it also predicts novel and counterintuitive effects, such as developmental reversals when children are less susceptible to spontaneous false memories or to irrational decision biases, compared with adults. Understanding these effects, how they occur under predictable conditions, is important in informing practice and policy. Such understanding mitigates against weaknesses in policy based on ‘common-sense’ rather than evidence and provides insight into both whether and how policy change is likely to have an effect. To facilitate this understanding, we introduce basic precepts of FTT and supporting research. We then show how these findings have important applications and implications for policy. We focus on the following areas – insight into mechanisms behind false memory that can inform policy relating to witness memory in the legal system, insight into the evaluation of evidence that can inform the presentation of medical information and reduce the impact of fake health news, and insight into risky decision-making that can inform policy seeking to reduce unhealthy and illegal risky behaviors and to ensure that decisions to plead guilty or go to trial in the criminal justice system are made for reasons that are normatively acceptable.