Memory distrust syndrome, confabulation and false confession

Abstract

There are three types of false confessions: 'voluntary', 'pressured-compliant' and 'pressured-internalized'. On the basis of case studies, in the early 1980s Gudjonsson and MacKeith coined the term 'memory distrust syndrome' to describe a condition where people develop profound distrust of their memory and become susceptible to relying on external cues and suggestions from others. Memory distrust can, under certain circumstances, lead to a false confession, particularly of the pressured-internalized type, described as 'confabulation'. This article reviews the evidence for the condition and the psychological mechanism and processes involved. A heuristic model is then presented of a 32 year old man who falsely confessed to murder whilst in police custody. The key elements of the model involve the impact of 'contextual risk factors' (i.e. isolation, long and persistent guilt presumptive interrogation, and high emotional intensity) on 'enduring' vulnerability and 'acute state' factors. The detainee had kept a detailed diary whilst in solitary confinement that provided a unique insight into the gradual development of a memory distrust syndrome, his mental state, and thinking process. This type of false confession is apparently quite rare, but it can occur in intellectually able and educated individuals and involves 'delayed' rather than 'immediate' suggestibility.

Comparison between Japanese online and standard administrations of the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale 2 and effects of post‐warning

“…Finally, this study did not examine to the extent to which participants internalized the misinformation 2 days later. Delayed suggestibility involves incorporating misleading information presented earlier into a subsequent test (Gudjonsson, 2017) and could become an index of internalization. It has been recently examined utilizing the GSS (e.g., Gudjonsson et al, 2016;Vagni, Maiorano, Pajardi, & Gudjonsson, 2015).…”

Har et «filleristet spedbarn» alltid vært filleristet?

“…Ingen av disse viser til funn hos spedbarn hvor ristingen er observert, den er bare tilstått -men først uker eller måneder etterpå -i politi-eller dommeravhør. Tilståelser fremkommet under slike omstendigheter er beheftet med atskillig usikkerhet (9).…”

Grunnleggende uenighet om filleristing

“…I den ene artikkelen (5) oppgis det at 24,5 % av tilfellene var basert på tilståelser, i den andre (6) ble mishandling bestemt ut fra om det forelå tilståelse som var dokumentert i journalen, eller at barnevernsteamet hadde bestemt dette, men det opplyses ikke om hvor mange som var basert på tilståelser, eller hvordan disse var oppnådd. Tilståelser fremkalt under rettslige avhør eller politiavhør lang tid etter hendelsen er av usikker verdi (7).…”