Do reminders of the crime reverse the memory-undermining effect of simulating amnesia?

I Mangiulli*, T Lanciano, K van Oorsouw, M Jelicic, A Curci

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Research shows that simulating amnesia impairs actual memory for a mock crime. Lack of rehearsal has been suggested as the most likely explanation for this finding because feigning amnesia is linked to reduced thinking about the offence. We investigated whether reminders about the crime could reverse the memory-undermining effect of simulation. In two studies, participants watched a video of a violent crime. After, they were asked to either simulate amnesia or confess the crime. During the week between the first and second memory test phase, participants were provided with reminders of the crime in two different modalities. In Study 1 (pilot), participants received frames of the mock crime video via WhatsApp. Findings showed that such reminders did not enhance ex-simulators' memory. In Study 2, participants were asked to put sequences of the mock crime in the right order. This latter modality led to enhanced memory for the offence in simulating participants. Theoretical and practical implications of our findings for the legal field are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1375–1385
Number of pages11
JournalMemory & Cognition
Volume47
Issue number7
Early online date17 May 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2019

Keywords

  • Crime-related amnesia
  • INFORMATION
  • INTRUSIVE MEMORIES
  • Memory loss
  • OFFENDERS
  • OFFENSES
  • RECALL
  • Rehearsal
  • Reminders
  • Simulating
  • VIOLENT CRIME

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