Source Memory in Social Contexts

Source memory is memory for where, when, how, and from whom information was received. Current source memory literature focuses mainly on memory for incidental information: i.e., where, when, how) rather than source identity: i.e., who). This dissertation addressed the role of source memory in social contexts and memory for source identity. Four experiments were designed to investigate the effects of information valence, target familiarity, and source congruence. 120 participants viewed a series of negative and positive statements about two targets provided by four sources and were later asked to identify the source of the information. Targets were considered positive and negative figures. Thus, statements were considered either congruent or incongruent with participants' expectations. The type of source and participants' connection with the targets were manipulated. Results revealed better source memory for incongruent sources than congruent sources only when participants' connection with the targets was strong: i.e., best friend). Similarly, results showed better source memory for incongruent sources than congruent sources only for first-order sources: i.e., actual individuals), but not for second-order sources: i.e., personnel files). Subsequent indirect tests of source memory assessed participants' likelihood to believe trivia statements provided by the same sources that had provided statements about the two targets. Results showed lower veridicality ratings for trivia statements provided by incongruent sources than for those provided by congruent sources. Findings suggest that source memory in social contexts has similar underlying principles as person memory. That is, expectancy congruence affects the encoding of source identity. The role of coalitional vigilance and epistemic vigilance in source encoding and subsequent interactions with sources are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2009

Author dc:creator

• Basten, Bianca

Contributors dc:contributor

• Pascal Boyer

• Psychology
• Cognitive
• source memory

Language dc:language

English (en)

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7936/K7QV3JNN

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openscholarship.wustl.edu:etd-1404