Memory distrust and acceptance of misinformation

S. van Bergen*, R. Horselenberg, H.L.G.J. Merckelbach, M. Jelicic, R. Beckers

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Relying on a community sample (N = 80), the present study examined whether memory distrust is related to an increased tendency to accept misinformation and whether it interacts with passage of time. Participants were shown video footage of an armed robbery. Approximately 30 minutes later, they were asked to describe as accurately as possible what they had seen. Either 1 day or 2 weeks later they were presented with their own statements, to which five misinformation items had been added. The results showed that people suffering from memory distrust accepted more misinformation than those with optimistic beliefs about their memory. In addition, both age and free recall seemed to modulate this relationship. However, memory evaluation did not interact with time interval. 

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)885-896
Number of pages12
JournalApplied Cognitive Psychology
Volume24
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2010

Keywords

  • ACCURACY
  • COGNITIVE FAILURES
  • CONFIDENCE
  • EYEWITNESS MEMORY
  • FALSE MEMORIES
  • IDENTIFICATION
  • INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES
  • MISLEADING POSTEVENT INFORMATION
  • SUGGESTIBILITY
  • SUSCEPTIBILITY

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