NCJ Number
165103
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1997) Pages: 95-106
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study investigated recent claims that it is relatively easy to suggestively plant false memories in children by comparing the relative vulnerability of children to changed, planted, and erased memories.
Abstract
The study sample included 80 4-year-olds and 80 10-year-olds in Los Angeles County public schools who were touched in a specific way or were not touched at all. It was later suggested that a different touch, a completely new touch, or no touch at all had occurred. The suggestibility effect occurred only in the changed memory condition, and the difference between the experimental changed condition and the corresponding control condition was significant. In planted and erased memory conditions, no suggestibility effect occurred and there was no significant reduction in experimental groups relative to corresponding control conditions. Although it was relatively easy to suggest to a child a change in an event that was experienced, it was less likely that an event could be planted in or erased from memory. The authors believe it is inappropriate to provide courtroom testimony regarding the probability of suggestively planting false memories based on classic susceptibility research which has largely been restricted to the study of suggestively changing memories. 29 references and 1 table