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The effects of prevalence and script information on plausibility, belief, and memory of autobiographical events
Author(s) -
Scoboria Alan,
Mazzoni Giuliana,
Kirsch Irving,
Jimenez Sherlyn
Publication year - 2006
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/acp.1240
Subject(s) - autobiographical memory , psychology , childhood memory , cognitive psychology , late childhood , childhood amnesia , developmental psychology , episodic memory , cognition , social psychology , recall , neuroscience
Theoretical predictions of a recently proposed ‘nested’ model of factors involved in the creation of false memories for childhood events (general plausibility, personal plausibility, autobiographical belief and autobiographical memory) were tested. Prevalence and/or script‐relevant information related to one of two unlikely childhood events was administered to a sample of 92 undergraduate participants. Predictions were (a) that script‐knowledge would impact general, but not personal plausibility; and (b) that prevalence information would lead to changes in personal plausibility and to a lesser degree autobiographical belief. Memory ratings should not be affected by these manipulations. Predictions were upheld for plausibility, and were partially upheld for autobiographical belief in one of two target events. New post‐manipulation support for the nested model was demonstrated. Implications for the nested model, and the creation of false autobiographical beliefs and memories for childhood events are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.