The role of perceptual elaboration and individual differences in the creation of false memories for suggested events

✍ Scribed by Sarah B. Drivdahl; Maria S. Zaragoza

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 153 KB
• Volume: 15
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0888-4080
• DOI: 10.1002/acp.701

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Witnesses who are exposed to false or misleading information in the course of an investigation are often asked follow‐up questions designed to elicit more detailed information about the alleged objects/events. The results of the present study showed that pressing witnesses to elaborate on the perceptual characteristics of suggested events increased false memory for these events. Specifically, participants who were asked about the perceptual details of suggested events (e.g. their location, physical appearance, etc.) were much more likely to later claim they ‘definitely’ remembered witnessing the fictions events than participants who were exposed to the same suggestions but were not probed about additional perceptual details. In addition, the present study examined the role of individual difference variables in susceptibility to suggestion. The results showed that scores on the Tellegen Absorption Scale (but not the Dissociative Experiences Scale and the Creative Imagination Scale) were correlated with susceptibility to false memory in this paradigm. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.