Abstract
In two studies, we explored whether susceptibility to false memories and the underestimation of prior memories (i.e., forgot-it-all-along effect) tap overlapping memory phenomena. Study 1 investigated this issue by administering the Deese/Roediger-McDermott task (DRM) and the forgot-it-all-along (FIA) task to an undergraduate sample (N=110). It was furthermore explored how performances on these tasks correlate with clinically relevant traits such as fantasy proneness, dissociative experiences, and cognitive efficiency. Results show that FIA and DRM performances are relatively independent from each other, suggesting that these measures empirically apparently refer to separate dimensions. However, they do not seem to define different profiles in terms of dissociation, fantasy proneness, and cognitive efficiency. Study 2 replicated the finding of relative independence between false memory propensity (as measured with the DRM task) and the underestimation of prior memories (as measured with an autobiographical memory dating task) in people with a history of childhood sexual abuse (N=35).
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1144-1153 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Consciousness and Cognition |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2011 |
Keywords
- Underestimation of prior remembering
- False memories
- Fantasy proneness
- Dissociation
- Cognitive efficiency
- Trauma history
- REPORTED COGNITIVE FAILURES
- INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES
- DISSOCIATIVE EXPERIENCES
- RECOVERED MEMORIES
- FANTASY PRONENESS
- COMMISSION ERRORS
- SEXUAL-ABUSE
- CREATION
- EVENTS
- WORDS