The malleability of developmental trends in neutral and negative memory illusions

H. Otgaar*, M. Howe, N. Brackmann, T. Smeets

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Among many legal professionals and memory researchers there exists the assumption that susceptibility to false memory decreases with age. In 4 misinformation experiments, we show that under conditions that focus on the meaning of experiences, children are not always the most susceptible to suggestion-induced false memories. We begin by presenting a short overview of previous developmental false memory studies, the majority of which have found that the susceptibility to misinformation decreases with age. In Experiment 1, 6/37-year-olds, 11/312-year-olds, and adults received a video and were confronted with misinformation about related but nonpresented details. Older children and adults had higher misinformation acceptance rates than younger children. In Experiment 2, we replicated this finding adding a younger child group (4/36-year-olds). In Experiments 3 and 4, we used new material and again found that susceptibility to misinformation increased with age. Together, these experiments show that children's memory accuracy is not necessarily inferior to that of adults.'
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)31-55
Number of pages25
JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology-General
Volume145
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2016

Keywords

  • false memory
  • memory development
  • suggestion
  • misinformation
  • developmental reversal
  • CHILDRENS EVENT MEMORY
  • SPREADING ACTIVATION THEORY
  • SPONTANEOUS FALSE MEMORIES
  • INTERROGATIVE SUGGESTIBILITY
  • REPRESENTATIONAL CONSTRAINTS
  • COGNITIVE INHIBITION
  • EYEWITNESS MEMORY
  • EMOTIONAL MEMORY
  • AGE-DIFFERENCES
  • YOUNG-CHILDREN

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