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Introduction
Lawson, Chae, Noriega, and Valentino (2021) explore child-parent attachment in preschool childrens memory accuracy. In this study, over seventy children recollected autobiographical events associated with fear, anger, happiness, and sadness with their parents assistance. Then, parents assessed their relationships attachment security (AS), and all children underwent independent interviews with factual and misleading questions. The results suggest a positive connection between AS and childrens ability to recollect autobiographic events accurately, with parent-guided reminiscing acting as the variable that links the two concepts (Lawson et al., 2021). Additionally, childrens suggestibility when addressing misleading questions was lower in older interviewees and those with higher IQ scores (Lawson et al., 2021). Overall, the study is supportive of the attachment-based theories of autobiographical memory.
Research on Autobiographical Memories in Legal Contexts
In their article, Principe and London (2022) explore trends in childrens memory processes in forensic contexts by evaluating and systematically representing earlier findings. According to the identified tendencies, typical parent-guided conversations involve techniques used by biased forensic interviewers, including pressure and force-choice/repeated questions to elicit desired responses (Principe & London, 2022). Childrens suggestibility can manifest in both everyday and legal contexts. In one of their earlier experiments, Principe and colleagues also revealed that parental focus on eliciting accurate recollections could actually increase underage eyewitnesses propensity to provide false details (Principe & London, 2022). Childrens vulnerability to suggestion and manipulative tactics is especially worrisome in sex abuse investigations. As per national survey research, almost 70% of adults suppose that children tend to deny violence and should undergo lengthy interviews with questions formulated in different ways to provide accurate responses (Principe & London, 2022). This trend suggests parents readiness to use manipulative techniques until childrens responses align with their suspicions.
Discussion
Accuracy of Preschoolers Recollections
Considering the aforementioned research findings, preschoolers recollections are accurate in positive child-parent relationship scenarios and imperfect if manipulative questioning techniques are present in conversations with parents. Overall, the accuracy with which children in this age group recollect autobiographic events depends on a plethora of factors. Higher individual intelligence levels enable children to recognize obviously misleading and manipulative cues when recollecting events independently, suggesting more accurate memories (Lawson et al., 2021). Moreover, the quality of child-parent relationships affects preschoolers ability to memorize emotional events and retrieve them from memory without significant distortions. Specifically, in preschoolers securely attached to their parents, recollections tend to be more accurate if caregivers make no clear attempts to induce false memories (Lawson et al., 2021). Manipulations, including questions containing suggestions, as well as pressure, produce inaccurate recollections (Feldman, 2018; Principe & London, 2022). Thus, the accuracy of preschoolers memories varies depending on external circumstances.
Questioning Children to Produce Accurate Recollections
Research findings peculiar to the legal system suggest recommendations to make the results of child questioning more accurate. To start with, children should be questioned alone to prevent parental utterances or non-verbal signs of approval/disapproval from altering the direction of their responses (Principe & London, 2022). Moreover, to avoid inaccurate answers, police officers or other legal interviewers should refrain from questioning children if the latter have overheard their parents accounts or testimonies (Principe & London, 2022). The failure to observe this rule can invite underage participants to switch between two different narratives or versions of the events in question. Parents who wish to elicit specific responses from children can conduct conversations prior to interviews, and children deny that they have received new information if such questions are asked only once (Principe & London, 2022).
Conclusion
Therefore, to detect external influences, investigators should ask follow-up questions regarding any suspicious statements and clarify the sources of information that the child provides but without any emotional pressure.
References
Feldman, R. S. (2018). Child development (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Lawson, M., Chae, Y., Noriega, I., & Valentino, K. (2021). Parentchild attachment security is associated with preschoolers memory accuracy for emotional life events through sensitive parental reminiscing. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 209, 1-17. Web.
Principe, G. F., & London, K. (2022). How parents can shape what children remember: Implications for the testimony of young witnesses. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 11(3), 289-302. Web.
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