Perceived memory credibility: The role of details

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Nadel, Lynn; Simon, Katharine C.
• 署名单位: University of Arizona; University of Arizona; University of California System; University of California Irvine
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-14351
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2416373121
• 发表日期: 2024-12-24
• 关键词: social function; perceptions; accuracy; eyewitnesses; believe; single; cues

摘要

The sharing of personal memories is a unique aspect of the human experience. Humans communicate to provide information, to influence, or even to amuse. How do we distinguish between credible and noncredible narratives? Forensic science has identified race, age, and detail quantity as influential. We do not know how the nature of narrated details impacts believability. We report two studies investigating how detail composition influences credibility ratings using definitions of details suggested by Levine et al. (2002). Internal details are directly connected to the episodic aspects of the memory, while external details refer to semantic facts or depictions not directly related to the main event. A total of 825 participants rated narratives that varied detail number and type for perceived credibility or saliency. Episodic memory details enhanced credibility more than semantic memory details. In addition, within episodic memories, person- related details enhanced credibility more than non- person- related details. Our results suggest a lens through which to view the credibility of what we hear and read.