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Concept information

phenomenon > memory phenomenon > developmental reversal

Preferred term

developmental reversal  

Definition

  • The term used for the fact that in some memory tasks, young children produce fewer false memories than older children and adults. These tasks (e.g. the DRM task) involve the ability to relate items associatively or semantically, an ability that becomes more efficient as children get older.

Broader concept

Related concepts

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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