Is your memory better than mine? Investigating the mechanisms and determinants of the memory conformity effect using a modified MORI technique

Abstract

The paper presents the memory conformity effect phenomenon, which involves the inclusion in memory accounts concerning a particular event (original information) of incorrect information (misinformation) that a witness has obtained as a result of another witness's account of the same event. The research had two goals: (1) to verify the existence of individuals who yield to misinformation yet are aware of discrepancy between the original information and the misinformation; (2) to determine why these individuals choose misinformation despite the correctness of their own memories. In addition, we examined the relationship between susceptibility to social influence, compliance, suggestibility and memory conformity in interaction with awareness of discrepancy. In order to examine the memory conformity effect, we used the MORI technique, which ensures high ecological validity. In this technique, the two members of each pair of participants sit next to each other and each are not aware that the other is watching a different version of the same event. Then, the participants answer related questions and discuss the contradictory details. Subsequently, the subjects complete an individual memory test. Importantly, after the main part of the study (i.e., the MORI procedure), participants were explicitly informed about the different versions of the event, and they were asked to complete awareness of discrepancy questionnaires. It was shown that awareness of the discrepancy between the original information and the misinformation reduced succumbing to misinformation. However, it was demonstrated that, despite being aware of discrepancies, 21.4% participants still succumbed to the misinformation. It was also shown that the main reason for participants being misinformed despite being aware of the discrepancy was distrust of their own memory.