Suggestibility to False Memories

The aim of the present study was twofold, to attempt to reduce false memories with the experimental manipulation of giving feedback; and to assess factors that potentially increase suggestibility to false memories, such as stress. In Experiment-1 an immediate feedback manipulation was introduced to reduce false memory rates, especially in older adults. A second aim of the experiment was to see if the feedback manipulation would decrease false memory rates in a source monitoring task, rather than a regular yes/no recognition task, as well. Results failed to demonstrate a facilitating effect of the source monitoring test or the feedback manipulation on memory performance. In Experiment-2, the effect of stress on false memory was investigated under the misinformation paradigm. In order to do this, stress was induced in half of the participants using the Trier Social Stress Test (Kirschbaum, Pirke, & Hellhammer, 1993). Older, but not younger, adults showed increased levels of false recall rates under conditions of stress.