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How Reliable are Children’s Memories?

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Handbook of Youth and Justice

Abstract

In this chapter we examine the role of behavioral scientists as reporters of research findings that may be contrary to public knowledge and expectations. The research to be examined relates to the suggestibility of children’;s memory and was prompted in part by the recent flood of highly publicized and horrifying accusations of child sexual abuse in this country and abroad. Specifically, the discussion focuses on the contrast between public perceptions of children’;s testimonial competence versus actual research findings about children’;s vulner-ability to suggestion.

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Ceci, S.J., Huffman, M.L., Crossman, A., Scullin, M., Gilstrap, L. (2001). How Reliable are Children’s Memories?. In: White, S.O. (eds) Handbook of Youth and Justice. The Plenum Series in Crime and Justice. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1289-9_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1289-9_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5480-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1289-9

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