Eyewitness Reliability
Out of 20 survivors who testified on the Titanic’s condition during its plunge, 75% recalled it breaking apart, aligning with forensic findings.
Forensic Validation
Later explorations confirmed that the Titanic split on the surface, contrasting with official 1912 inquiries.
Stress and Memory
Contrary to theories suggesting high-stress events impair memory, most survivors accurately recalled central details of the traumatic event.
Methodological Limits
The study acknowledges limitations due to the unstructured 1912 inquiries and limited survivor testimonies.
Bias and Interpretation
Early investigators may have ignored survivor accounts due to biases favouring the Titanic’s “unsinkable” reputation.
Historical Significance
The findings contribute to understanding trauma memory and historical evidence validation.
Find it on doi.org
Encyclopedia Titanica is not responsible for the content of external sites, and the availability of links may change.
Citation:
Todd C. Riniolo, Myriah Koledin, Gregory M. Drakulic & Robin A. Payne An Archival Study of Eyewitness Memory of the Titanic's Final Plunge, The Journal of General Psychology, Vol. 130, No. 1
About Research References on Encyclopedia Titanica
This item is not available to read on Encyclopedia Titanica, but we have included it as a reference, provided a brief summary of the key points, and linked to the original source to help readers interested in the finer details of the Titanic story.