Reinforced self‐affirmation as a method for reducing eyewitness memory conformity: An experimental examination using a modified MORI technique

Abstract

Summary The manuscript describes an experimental investigation of one possible technique that may reduce memory conformity: the reinforced self‐affirmation procedure (RSA). While previous studies have already demonstrated the RSA's effectiveness in reducing other memory distortions (e.g., the misinformation effect and interrogative suggestibility), this has not been tested in the context of the co‐witness memory conformity effect. To this end, we will utilize the well‐known MORI technique to study co‐witness memory conformity under well‐controlled experimental conditions. While viewing different versions of the same movie, pairs of participants will sit beside each other, believing that they are viewing the same version. Next, they will answer questions collaboratively, which will guide them to discuss conflicting details. Finally, participants will take a recognition test individually, but in the experimental condition, this will be proceeded by the RSA procedure, which is expected to be an effective way of eliminating the effect of memory conformity. If reinforcing one's own confidence reduces the plausible memory conformity effect, it may be then argued that the mechanism underlying this phenomenon is the participants' lack of confidence relating to quality of their memory. As argued in the present paper, these results will open up a set of interesting questions for future research.

Memory distrust is related to memory errors, self‐esteem, and personality

“…Explorative mediation analyses also showed that the indirect effect of self‐esteem on false memory was significant in Study 1a and Study 2 and the indirect effect of self‐esteem on NBM was significant in Study 2. These results also dovetail with research on self‐esteem and collaborative recall (Kękuś et al, 2020; Szpitalak & Polczyk, 2015, 2019), indicating that self‐esteem may influence the direction of memory contagion through metacognitive appraisal. Individuals with low self‐esteem would hold a more skeptical view of their memory functioning in general, which might make them more vulnerable to memory distortions under certain social influences such as interrogation or misguided interviews.…”

“…significant in Study 1a and Study 2 and the indirect effect of selfesteem on NBM was significant in Study 2. These results also dovetail with research on self-esteem and collaborative recall(Kęku s et al, 2020;Szpitalak & Polczyk, 2015, indicating that selfesteem may influence the direction of memory contagion through…”

“…Furthermore, it has been found that self-affirmation techniques such as writing down life achievements and receiving positive feedback on performance (i.e., an above-average performance in memory task) can induce resistance to the misinformation effect (Szpitalak & Polczyk, 2015, and memory conformity (Kęku s et al, 2020).…”

“…Furthermore, it has been found that self‐affirmation techniques such as writing down life achievements and receiving positive feedback on performance (i.e., an above‐average performance in memory task) can induce resistance to the misinformation effect (Szpitalak & Polczyk, 2015, 2019), and memory conformity (Kękuś et al, 2020). The fact that self‐esteem affects memory error formation under social influence and boosting self‐esteem buffers negative social feedback from task partners or experimenters also supports that its effect on memory may result from its influence on beliefs about one's memory instead of memory capacity.…”

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

“…Similar to Kękuś et al (2020, p. 1203), we will inspect the memory conformity effect using the procedure of Garry et al (2008), also, Ito et al, 2019). Analogously to Garry et al, we will examine the final test accuracy scores for the critical details with the use of analysis of variance (ANOVA).…”