Simulating denial increases false memory rates for abuse unrelated information

Abstract

Victims of abuse might deny their traumatic experiences.We studied mnemonic effects of simulating false denial of a child sexual abuse narrative. Participants (N = 127) read and empathized with the main character of this narrative.Next, half were instructed to falsely deny abuse-related information while others responded honestly in an interview. One week later, participants received misinformation for the narrative and interview. In a final source memory task, participants' memory for the narrative and interview was tested. Participants who falsely denied abuse-related information endorsed more abuse-unrelated misinformation about the event than honest participants. Abuse-related false memory rates did not statistically differ between the groups, and false denials were not related to omission errors about (1) the interview and (2) narrative. Hence, victim's memory for abuse-related information related to their experience might not be affected by a false denial, and inconsistencies surrounding the abuse-unrelated information are more likely to take place.

Denials in informal co‐witness conversations do not affect memory for witnessed events

“…However, it is also possible that the informal co‐witness discussion would offer the denying individual retrieval cues, which can help consolidate memory traces (Blank, 2009) and thus perhaps decrease the strength of the expected denial‐induced forgetting effect. Furthermore, we expected that true memory reports for the video would not be affected by the internal denial (Hypothesis 2; e.g., Bücken et al, in revision; Otgaar et al, 2014, 2016, 2018; Romeo, Otgaar, Smeets, Landström, & Jelicic, 2019), based on previous research on false denials using trauma analogue videos (Bücken, Mangiulli, & Otgaar, 2022). Hence, we expected no difference in video memory between participants in the internal false denial and honest control groups.…”

‘Nothing happened’: Legal implications of false denials among abused children

“…If the negative effects of false denials only pertain to memory for the interview, but memory for the adverse experience itself remains intact ( but see also : Battista et al, 2021), then allegations made after a false denial might be valid. Indeed, Bücken et al (2022) recently examined whether false denials in a simulated police interview would impact susceptibility to report misleading information about a child sexual abuse narrative. To do so, they asked participants (undergraduate students) to roleplay being the victim of this child abuse narrative and then asked them to either falsely deny or respond honestly in a subsequent simulated police interview.…”

“…Romeo et al, 2019) or a child sexual abuse narrative (i.e. Bücken et al, 2022), memory for traumatic events that are personally and often repeatedly experienced, as they are in real abuse cases, might differ. Studies have found that events that are relevant or in close relation to oneself often have been found to be remembered better than events that are not as personally relevant (i.e.…”

“…Romeo et al, 2019) or a child sexual abuse narrative (i.e. Bücken et al, 2022), memory for traumatic events that are personally and often repeatedly experienced, as they are in real abuse cases, might differ.…”

Can false denials turn fact into fiction? The effect of false denials on memory for self-performed actions

“…Recently, research has focused on the mnemonic consequences of false denials showing that such denials have memory undermining effects (e.g., Battista et al, 2021;Bücken et al, 2022;Otgaar et al, 2014;Otgaar et al, 2016a). However, these studies have predominantly examined the effect of false denials on memory from a passive perspective (i.e., victims or bystanders; but see also Romeo et al, 2019b).…”