What primary factor influences the accuracy of recollections over time according to psychological studies?

The primary factor influencing the accuracy of recollections over time, particularly highlighted in psychological studies, is time and reflection. As time passes, memory can naturally degrade and become less reliable due to various processes, such as forgetting or interference from subsequent events. This degradation often leads to inaccuracies in recollection.

Moreover, reflection plays a critical role in the way memories are processed after the event. When individuals think about their experiences, they may inadvertently reshape and reconstruct those memories, often influenced by new information or changing perceptions. Thus, the more time that passes, combined with the individual's reflective processes, can significantly alter the accuracy of what they remember, enhancing the risks of distortion or fabrication of details.

In this context, other factors like environmental changes, personal biases, and memory reinforcement through discussions can contribute to memory accuracy but are often secondary to the fundamental influence of time and the reflective processes associated with memory retrieval.