Are truth-tellers as unreliable as liars? An exploration of how exposing low versus high cognitive load before performing denial versus truth-telling affects memory performance.
(2023) PSYP01 20231Department of Psychology
- Abstract
- False denial is a deceptive strategy involving the refusal of knowledge or actions. Previous studies have reported the denial-induced forgetting (DIF) effect, where denying information during an interrogation impairs memory for the discussed details. Recent research has shown that denial can also affect the original event memory when cognitive resources are strained during task execution. However, cognitive strain before false denial remains unexplored. As denial requires effortful processing, the present study investigates the impact of exhaustive cognitive load before engaging in deception on memory performance.
In the current experiment, participants (N = 105) watched a mock crime video, performed either an n-back test with low or... (More) - False denial is a deceptive strategy involving the refusal of knowledge or actions. Previous studies have reported the denial-induced forgetting (DIF) effect, where denying information during an interrogation impairs memory for the discussed details. Recent research has shown that denial can also affect the original event memory when cognitive resources are strained during task execution. However, cognitive strain before false denial remains unexplored. As denial requires effortful processing, the present study investigates the impact of exhaustive cognitive load before engaging in deception on memory performance.
In the current experiment, participants (N = 105) watched a mock crime video, performed either an n-back test with low or high cognitive load, and were instructed to either deny or tell the truth about events presented in the video. After 24 hours, the memory accuracy was tested when required to answer truthfully. ANOVAs were conducted to investigate the impact of cognitive load and deceptive strategy on the occurrence of typical memory performance measures, including omission, commission, and belief scores.
Contrary to predictions, the present study could not replicate the DIF effect or demonstrate that high cognitive load induces commission errors when denying. However, it could be confirmed that the belief was mainly increased among truth-tellers. Surprisingly, false denial had a higher memory accuracy for the interview memory. Consequently, truth-telling may decrease memory performance, potentially even more than denial, which was initially expected to induce more memory errors. The present findings offer valuable implications for forensic professionals and therapy regarding the reliability of statements. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9135238
- author
- Ohse, Annina Mareike Carolin LU
- supervisor
-
- Mikael Johansson LU
- Ines Bramao LU
- organization
- course
- PSYP01 20231
- year
- 2023
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- cognitive load, deceptive strategy, false denial, truth-telling, denial-induced forgetting, memory performance, belief, n-back test
- language
- English
- id
- 9135238
- date added to LUP
- 2023-09-06 15:41:36
- date last changed
- 2023-09-06 15:41:36
@misc{9135238,
abstract = {{False denial is a deceptive strategy involving the refusal of knowledge or actions. Previous studies have reported the denial-induced forgetting (DIF) effect, where denying information during an interrogation impairs memory for the discussed details. Recent research has shown that denial can also affect the original event memory when cognitive resources are strained during task execution. However, cognitive strain before false denial remains unexplored. As denial requires effortful processing, the present study investigates the impact of exhaustive cognitive load before engaging in deception on memory performance.
In the current experiment, participants (N = 105) watched a mock crime video, performed either an n-back test with low or high cognitive load, and were instructed to either deny or tell the truth about events presented in the video. After 24 hours, the memory accuracy was tested when required to answer truthfully. ANOVAs were conducted to investigate the impact of cognitive load and deceptive strategy on the occurrence of typical memory performance measures, including omission, commission, and belief scores.
Contrary to predictions, the present study could not replicate the DIF effect or demonstrate that high cognitive load induces commission errors when denying. However, it could be confirmed that the belief was mainly increased among truth-tellers. Surprisingly, false denial had a higher memory accuracy for the interview memory. Consequently, truth-telling may decrease memory performance, potentially even more than denial, which was initially expected to induce more memory errors. The present findings offer valuable implications for forensic professionals and therapy regarding the reliability of statements.}},
author = {{Ohse, Annina Mareike Carolin}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Are truth-tellers as unreliable as liars? An exploration of how exposing low versus high cognitive load before performing denial versus truth-telling affects memory performance.}},
year = {{2023}},
}