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Concept information

phenomenon > memory phenomenon > developmental reversal

Preferred term

developmental reversal  

Definition

  • A memory phenomenon observed when younger children produce fewer false memories than older children and adults.

Broader concept

Related concepts

Scope note

  • Developmental reversal of false memories is observed in memory tasks, such as the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) task, which rely on the semantic relatedness of stimuli, which becomes more efficient as children grow older.

Belongs to group

Bibliographic citation(s)

  • • Brainerd, C. J. (2013). Developmental reversals in false memory: A new look at the reliability of children’s evidence. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 22(5), 335–341. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721413484468

    • Document type: literature review

    • Access: closed

  • • Brainerd, C. J., & Reyna, V. F. (2012). Reliability of children’s testimony in the era of developmental reversals. Developmental Review, 32(3), 224–267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2012.06.008

    • Document type: literature review

    • Access: open

  • • Brainerd, C. J., & Reyna, V. F. (2023). Theoretical explanations of developmental reversals in memory and reasoning. Developmental Review, 69, 101087. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2023.101087

    • Document type: literature review

    • Access: open

  • • Brainerd, C. J., Reyna, V. F., & Holliday, R. E. (2018). Developmental reversals in false memory: Development is complementary, not compensatory. Developmental Psychology, 54(9), 1773–1784. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000554

    • Document type: empirical study

    • Access: closed

  • • Calado, B., Otgaar, H., & Muris, P. (2018). Are children better witnesses than adolescents? Developmental trends in different false memory paradigms. Journal of Child Custody, 15(4), 330–348. https://doi.org/10.1080/15379418.2019.1568948

    • Document type: empirical study

    • Access: open

    • Dataset reference: Calado, B., Otgaar, H., & Muris, P. (2018, September 27). Are Children Better Witnesses than Adolescents? Developmental Trends in Different False Memory Paradigms. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/6EMH2
  • • Martin, P., Speranza, M., & Colombel, F. (2025). Creating false memories in children using French word lists. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue Canadienne Des Sciences Du Comportement, 57(1), 66-70. https://doi.org/10.1037/cbs0000403

    • Document type: empirical study

    • Access: closed

  • • Otgaar, H., Howe, M. L., Merckelbach, H., & Muris, P. (2018). Who is the better eyewitness? Sometimes adults but at other times children. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27(5), 378–385. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721418770998

    • Document type: literature review

    • Access: open

  • • Otgaar, H., Howe, M. L., Muris, P., & Merckelbach, H. (2019). Dealing with false memories in children and adults: Recommendations for the legal arena. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 6(1), 87–93. https://doi.org/10.1177/2372732218818584

    • Document type: literature review

    • Access: free

  • • Otgaar, H., Howe, M. L., Peters, M., Smeets, T., & Moritz, S. (2014). The production of spontaneous false memories across childhood. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 121, 28–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2013.11.019

    • Document type: empirical study

    • Access: closed

    • Dataset reference: Calado, B., Otgaar, H., & Muris, P. (2018, September 27). Are Children Better Witnesses than Adolescents? Developmental Trends in Different False Memory Paradigms. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/6EMH2
  • • Rosendaul, B. J., Su, I.-A., & Ceci, S. J. (2023). Normative developmental vs. reverse developmental trends in memory distortion: A framework to investigate the impact of internal and external influences on memory and their relevance to legal decisions. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1232753

    • Document type: literature review

    • Access: open

  • • Schopen, K., Otgaar, H., Howe, M. L., & Muris, P. (2022). Effects of forewarnings on children’s and adults’ spontaneous false memories. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 19(2), 177–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2021.1904877

    • Document type: empirical study

    • Access: open

Creator

  • Frank Arnould

Has theory(ies)

Moderator variable(s)

  • • Stimulus type: The effect is eliminated when stimuli contains obvious themes (more false memories in children than in adults; Otgaar et al., 2014).

In other languages

URI

http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/P66-RZVNZ5S8-J

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