The effect of the reciprocity norm and guided imagery on the development of implanted memories in children

Abstract

Previous research has shown that the use of guided imagery can create source monitoring errors in adults and induce false memories for events that never occurred. Research has also shown that some forms of social influence can induce suggestibility in children. The current study examined whether guided imagery and a social influence technique involving the norm of reciprocity could induce the formation of false memories in children. One hundred sixteen first- and second-grade children were interviewed twice and asked to freely recall three true events as well as one false event that they were told was true. Interviewers used guided imagery with some groups of children to induce memories of the false event. A separate manipulation involving the norm of reciprocity was used with other groups of children to encourage false memories. Contrary to prediction, children who received the guided imagery and reciprocity manipulations did not report more false memories than did children in control groups. However, regardless of the experimental manipulation, the proportion of children who developed false memories increased significantly between the first and second interviews. The implications of these findings for source monitoring theory and forensic interviewing with children are discussed.