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Maltreatment increases spontaneous false memories but decreases suggestion‐induced false memories in children
Author(s) -
Otgaar Henry,
Howe Mark L.,
Muris Peter
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
british journal of developmental psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 2044-835X
pISSN - 0261-510X
DOI - 10.1111/bjdp.12177
Subject(s) - false memory , psychology , misinformation , developmental psychology , child abuse , suggestibility , illusion , poison control , memory errors , cognitive psychology , injury prevention , recall , computer security , medical emergency , medicine , computer science
We examined the creation of spontaneous and suggestion‐induced false memories in maltreated and non‐maltreated children. Maltreated and non‐maltreated children were involved in a Deese–Roediger–McDermott false memory paradigm where they studied and remembered negative and neutral word lists. Suggestion‐induced false memories were created using a misinformation procedure during which both maltreated and non‐maltreated children viewed a negative video (i.e., bank robbery) and later received suggestive misinformation concerning the event. Our results showed that maltreated children had higher levels of spontaneous negative false memories but lower levels of suggestion‐induced false memories as compared to non‐maltreated children. Collectively, our study demonstrates that maltreatment both increases and decreases susceptibility to memory illusions depending on the type of false memory being induced.Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject?Trauma affects memory. It is unclear how trauma affects false memory.What does this study add?This study focuses on two types of false memories.