NCJ Number
185128
Journal
Trauma, Violence, and Abuse Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2000 Pages: 223-249
Date Published
July 2000
Length
27 pages
Annotation
In recent years, increasing numbers of studies have investigated children's memory, suggestibility, and false event reports; this article highlights key findings from and implications of this research for interviewing child witnesses.
Abstract
First, developmental changes in children's memory and suggestibility are discussed. The authors note that older children generally remember more than do younger children, and older children are less susceptible to false suggestions; however, young children still can and do remember their experiences, although, as this article discusses, there are several limitations to their abilities. Second, the authors review theory and research concerning relations between emotional distress and children's memory, with an emphasis on methodological differences that have led to varied results across studies. Topics discussed in this section are classic theoretical perspectives on stress and memory, as well as empirical investigations of children's memory for stressful events. Third, the article identifies and discusses factors associated with the context of an interview that may influence children's susceptibility to false suggestions. Fourth, the article describes recent studies regarding individual differences in children's mnemonic capabilities, suggestibility, and false memories. The authors conclude with recommendations about what can and cannot be concluded from research on questioning child witnesses. 146 references