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Further Evidence That Repeated Checking Leads to Reduced Memory Confidence, Vividness and Detail: New Evidence That Repeated Object Exposure Also Results in Memory Distrust

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 August 2013

Meredith Medway  and
Mairwen K. Jones
Meredith Medway
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Mairwen K. Jones*
Affiliation:
Discipline of Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Mairwen Jones, Discipline of Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, PO Box 170, Lidcombe NSW 182Australia. Email: mairwen.jones@sydney.edu.au
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Abstract

Researchers have suggested that distrust in one's memory is both a cause and a consequence of repeated checking. We investigated whether reduced clarity and confidence occurs to an equal degree with repeated object use and repeated checking. In addition, whether decreased memory confidence persists after a delay in checking or use was examined. Participants (N = 113) either repeatedly checked or repeatedly used a virtual stove or a light bulb stimulus (the control stimulus). Significant declines in memory accuracy, confidence, vividness and detail were observed for the experimental compared to the control stimulus. No significant differences in these effects between the checking and exposure conditions were found. A significant increase in state anxiety across pre-, mid- and post-test was found for both conditions. These findings provide further support for the notion that repeated checking can be self-perpetuating due to its impact on memory processes. The findings also suggest that checking is not necessary for these effects to occur as repeated use without checking also results in significant declines in memory accuracy, confidence, vividness and detail. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Keywords

obsessive–compulsive disordercheckingmemory confidencememory distrust
Type
Standard Papers
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 30 , Issue 3 , September 2013 , pp. 159 - 179
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Australian Academic Press Pty Ltd 2013 

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