Individual differences in susceptibility to false memories: The effect of memory specificity

Dewhurst, Stephen A; Anderson, Rachel J; Berry, Donna M; Garner, Sarah R

Abstract

Previous research has highlighted the wide individual variability in susceptibility to the false memories produced by the Deese/Roediger–McDermott (DRM) procedure. This study investigated whether susceptibility to false memories is influenced by individual differences in the specificity of autobiographical memory retrieval. Memory specificity was measured using the Sentence Completion for Events from the Past Test (SCEPT). Memory specificity did not correlate with correct recognition, but a specific retrieval style was positively correlated with levels of false recognition. It is proposed that the contextual details that frequently accompany false memories of non-studied lures are more accessible in individuals with specific retrieval styles.

Citation

Dewhurst, S. A., Anderson, R. J., Berry, D. M., & Garner, S. R. (2018). Individual differences in susceptibility to false memories: The effect of memory specificity. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 71(7), 1637-1644. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2017.1345961

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jan 1, 2018
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Deposit Date: May 25, 2023
• Journal: Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology
• Print ISSN: 1747-0218
• Electronic ISSN: 1747-0226
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 71
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 1637-1644
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2017.1345961
• Keywords: Physiology (medical); General Psychology; Experimental and Cognitive Psychology; General Medicine; Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology; Physiology
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1080/17470218.2017.1345961