Author:

Keywords:

false denial, simulated memory error, false memory, victim memory, misinformation, Social Sciences, Psychology, Applied, Law, Psychology, Government & Law, CHILDRENS, BLINDNESS, ADULTS, True, ITEM, Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Communication, Humans, Memory, Mental Recall, Narration, 11K3121N|11K3123N#55990273, G0D3621N#56129231, 1602 Criminology, 1701 Psychology, 1801 Law, Criminology, 4402 Criminology, 4804 Law in context, 5201 Applied and developmental psychology

Abstract:

Victims of abuse might deny their traumatic experiences. We studied mnemonic effects of simulating false denial of a child sexual abuse narrative. Participants (N = 127) read and empathized with the main character of this narrative. Next, half were instructed to falsely deny abuse-related information while others responded honestly in an interview. One week later, participants received misinformation for the narrative and interview. In a final source memory task, participants' memory for the narrative and interview was tested. Participants who falsely denied abuse-related information endorsed more abuse-unrelated misinformation about the event than honest participants. Abuse-related false memory rates did not statistically differ between the groups, and false denials were not related to omission errors about (1) the interview and (2) narrative. Hence, victim's memory for abuse-related information related to their experience might not be affected by a false denial, and inconsistencies surrounding the abuse-unrelated information are more likely to take place.