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The potential effects of the implanted memory paradigm on child subjects
Author(s) -
Herrmann Douglas,
Yoder Carol
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
applied cognitive psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.719
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1099-0720
pISSN - 0888-4080
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-0720(199806)12:3<198::aid-acp1522>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - psychology , affect (linguistics) , deception , false memory , paradigm shift , cognitive psychology , childhood amnesia , memory development , cognition , developmental psychology , childhood memory , social psychology , cognitive development , recall , neuroscience , episodic memory , epistemology , communication , philosophy
The purpose of this article is to examine the appropriate use of the implanted memory paradigm with children. In this paradigm, participants are asked repeatedly about fictitious events that never transpired. The responses of children in these investigations demonstrate clearly that they can be led to unintentionally create false memories. This article addresses whether memory research should continue to encourage children to create memories for events that never happened. The literature in other areas of psychology suggests that deception may lessen respect for authority, affect a child's self‐esteem, and create stress. We propose that the use of the implanted memory paradigm be suspended indefinitely or until appropriate research demonstrates that the paradigm does not affect children negatively. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.