Believing is seeing: how rumors can engender false memories in preschoolers

Psychological Science
Gabrielle F PrincipeMona Singh

Abstract

This study examined how an erroneous rumor circulated among preschoolers can influence their memory. One fourth of the children overheard a rumor from an adult conversation in which it was alleged that an event the children had not experienced themselves had occurred. A second fourth were the classmates of those who overheard the rumor. A third group had no exposure to the rumor. The remaining children actually experienced the event suggested by the rumor. One week later, the children were interviewed in either a neutral or a suggestive manner. Results from a second interview after a 2-week delay revealed that under both interview conditions, children who overheard the rumor, either from the adult conversation or during naturally occurring interactions with classmates, were as likely to report experiencing the rumored but nonexperienced event as were those who actually experienced it. Most reports of the rumored but nonexperienced event were in children's free recall and were accompanied by high levels of fictitious elaboration.

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Citations

Aug 25, 2007·Annual Review of Clinical Psychology·Stephen J CeciMaggie Bruck
Feb 18, 2016·Behavioral Sciences & the Law·Lakin AndersonHarlene Hayne
Aug 1, 2012·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Gabrielle F PrincipeErica Schindewolf
Nov 7, 2012·Developmental Review : DR·Gabrielle F Principe, Erica Schindewolf
Dec 25, 2007·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Gabrielle F PrincipeCourtney Root
Jun 15, 2007·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Gabrielle F PrincipeNicholas Dobkowski
Sep 30, 2009·New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development·Elizabeth J Robinson
Aug 14, 2015·British Journal of Anaesthesia·T M Cook, J J Pandit
Jul 16, 2010·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Gabrielle F PrincipeStephanie Guiliano
Jul 28, 2010·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Gabrielle F PrincipeKyli Kauth
Sep 17, 2011·Memory·Katherine McGuireDaniel B Wright
Feb 16, 2017·Child Development·Kara N MooreAna J Bridges
Feb 17, 2017·Chronic Stress·Patricia McKinsey Crittenden, Mary Brownescombe Heller

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