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VanMeter F, Henderson H, Konovalov H, Karni-Visel Y, Blasbalg U. Children's Narrative Coherence in "Achieving Best Evidence" Forensic Interviews and Courtroom Testimony. PSYCHOLOGY, CRIME & LAW : PC & L 2021; 29:203-221. [PMID: 36949752 PMCID: PMC10027376 DOI: 10.1080/1068316x.2021.2018438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In the United Kingdom, Section 27 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act permits "Achieving Best Evidence" (ABE) forensic interviews to replace the evidence-in-chief in cases involving children. It is therefore imperative that forensic interviewers elicit complete, reliable, and coherent narratives from children. The goal of the current research study was to assess the coherence of forensic interviews and whether the interviewers' emotional or cognitive support was associated with increases in the coherence of these interviews. Children's narrative coherence was examined in 80 transcripts of ABE investigative interviews with 7- to-15-year-olds who disclosed sexual abuse. Narrative coherence was assessed using the Narrative Coherence Coding Scheme, including three dimensions of narrative coherence: chronology, consistency, and theme (Reese et al., 2011). Findings revealed that first elicited events were more likely to be more coherent compared to subsequently elicited events, and child engagement was positively associated with all dimensions of narrative coherence. Interviewer support was positively associated with chronology, script accounts of abuse were associated with decreased consistency and chronology (but not theme), and cognitive support was not associated with any dimension of narrative coherence.
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Miragoli S, Procaccia R, Camisasca E, Di Blasio P. How are sexually abused children interviewed during criminal proceedings in Italy? EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/17405629.2019.1573665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Miragoli
- C.R.I.d.e.e., Psychology Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
| | - Rossella Procaccia
- C.R.I.d.e.e., Psychology Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Psychology, e-Campus University, Novedrate (CO), Italy
| | - Elena Camisasca
- C.R.I.d.e.e., Psychology Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Psychology, e-Campus University, Novedrate (CO), Italy
| | - Paola Di Blasio
- C.R.I.d.e.e., Psychology Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
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Wolfman M, Brown D, Jose P. The use of visual aids in forensic interviews with children. JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN MEMORY AND COGNITION 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jarmac.2018.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Benedan L, Powell MB, Zajac R, Lum JAG, Snow P. Suggestibility in neglected children: The influence of intelligence, language, and social skills. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2018; 79:51-60. [PMID: 29407856 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We administered the GSS-2, a standardised measure of suggestibility, to 5- to 12-year-old children to ascertain whether neglected children's responses to leading questions distinguish them from those of their non-neglected counterparts. Neglected children (n = 75) were more likely than an age-matched sample of non-neglected children (n = 75) to yield to leading questions, despite no difference in their ability to recall the test stimuli. Subsequent collection of individual difference data from the neglected sample revealed that this effect could not be attributed to intelligence, language ability, problem behaviours, age at onset of neglect, or time spent in out-of-home care. With respect to social skill, however, suggestibility was positively correlated with communicative skill, and marginally positively correlated with assertion and engagement. While on the surface our social skills findings seem counter-intuitive, it is possible that maltreated children with relative strengths in these areas have learned to comply with adults in their environment as a way to protect themselves or even foster belonging. Our data, while preliminary, raise interesting questions about whether targeted interventions could help these children to more actively participate in decisions about their lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Benedan
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy; Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Martine B Powell
- Centre for Investigative Interviewing, Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
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Earhart B, Brubacher SP, Powell MB, Westera NJ, Goodman-Delahunty J. Judges' delivery of ground rules to child witnesses in Australian courts. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2017; 74:62-72. [PMID: 28882320 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Ground rules directions are given to children in forensic interviews to explain what is expected of them, and to reduce their tendency to acquiesce to erroneous or incomprehensible questions. Ground rules may also be necessary when children provide testimony in court. Drawing on research conducted for the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the present study examined the use of ground rules directions delivered in court in 52 trials by 24 presiding judges in three jurisdictions to 57 child complainants (aged 7-17.5 years). Eleven categories of rules were identified. The number of words spoken to deliver each rule was counted, and grade-level readability scores were calculated as a proxy for the complexity of the ground rules. When judges asked comprehension or practice questions, the question types were coded. More than one third of the children (35%) received no ground rules directions from the judge; the remaining 65% received directions on an average of 3.5 types of ground rules out of a maximum of 11 types. While comprehension questions were common, practice questions were rare. Comprehension questions were most often presented in a yes/no format that implied the expected response, although this form of question is unlikely to provide an effective assessment of a child's comprehension. Neither the number of rules delivered nor the number of words used was related to children's age. Implications for children's court testimony are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Becky Earhart
- Deakin University, Centre for Investigative Interviewing, Australia.
| | | | - Martine B Powell
- Deakin University, Centre for Investigative Interviewing, Australia
| | - Nina J Westera
- Griffith University, Centre for Investigative Interviewing, Australia
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Pernebo K, Almqvist K. Young Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence Describe their Abused Parent: A Qualitative Study. JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE 2016; 32:169-178. [PMID: 28163366 PMCID: PMC5250674 DOI: 10.1007/s10896-016-9856-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The negative impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) begins early in the child's relationship with a caregiver. Children's relationships with, and internal working models of, abused parents have rarely been documented. The aim of this study was to collect and interpret young children's accounts of their abused parent. Interviews were conducted with 17 children aged 4 to 12 years who had witnessed IPV. Thematic analysis identified three main themes and seven sub-themes: "Coherent accounts of the parent" (sub-themes of "general benevolence", "provision of support, protection, and nurture", and "parental distress"); "Deficient accounts of the parent" ("vague accounts" and "disorganized narrations"); and "The parent as a trauma trigger" ("avoidance" and "breakthrough of intrusive memories and thoughts"). The results indicate these children may hold integrated, deficient, or blocked internal representations of an abused parent, and they illustrate the benefit of including young children as informants in research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Pernebo
- Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
- Department of Research and Development, Region Kronoberg, Box 1223, S-351 12 Växjö, Sweden
| | - Kjerstin Almqvist
- Department of Social and Psychological Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
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Cleveland KC, Quas JA, Lyon TD. Valence, Implicated Actor, and Children's Acquiescence to False Suggestions. JOURNAL OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2016; 43:1-7. [PMID: 26955204 DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Although adverse effects of suggestive interviewing on children's accuracy are well documented, it remains unclear as to whether these effects vary depending on the valence of and the actor implicated in suggestions. In this study, 124 3-8-year-olds participated in a classroom activity and were later questioned about positive and negative false details. The interviewer provided positive reinforcement when children acquiesced to suggestions and negative feedback when they did not. Following reinforcement or feedback, young children were comparably suggestible for positive and negative details. With age, resistance to suggestions about negative details emerged first, followed by resistance to suggestions about positive details. Across age, more negative feedback was required to induce acquiescence to negative than positive false details. Finally, children were less willing to acquiesce when they (versus the confederate) were implicated. Findings highlight the interactive effects of valence and children's age on their eyewitness performance in suggestive contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyndra C Cleveland
- , , 4201 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-7085 United States
| | - Jodi A Quas
- , , 4328 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-7085 United States
| | - Thomas D Lyon
- , , University of Southern California, 699 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90089 United States
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Bokström P, Fängström K, Calam R, Lucas S, Sarkadi A. 'I felt a little bubbly in my tummy': eliciting pre-schoolers' accounts of their health visit using a computer-assisted interview method. Child Care Health Dev 2016; 42:87-97. [PMID: 26564782 DOI: 10.1111/cch.12293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Revised: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the health care services, children's rights to participate in all matters that concern them are considered important. However, in practice this can be challenging with young children. In My Shoes (IMS) is a computer-assisted interview tool developed to help children talk about their experiences. The aim of the study was to evaluate the IMS' ability to elicit pre-schoolers' subjective experiences and accurate accounts of a routine health visit as well as the children's engagement in the interview process. METHODS Interviews were conducted with 23 children aged 4-5 years, 2-4 weeks after their health visit. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a method inspired by Content Analysis to evaluate IMS's ability to elicit accounts about subjective experiences. Accurate accounts were assessed by comparing the transcribed interviews with the filmed visits at the child health centre. The children's engagement was defined by the completion and length of the interviews, and the children's interaction with the software. RESULTS All children gave accounts about their subjective experiences, such as their emotional state during the visit, available toys or rewards they received. All children related to the correct event, they all named at least one person who was present and 87% correctly named at least one examination procedure. The majority of children (91%) completed the interview, which lasted 17-39 min (M = 24), and 96% interacted with the IMS software. CONCLUSIONS IMS was feasible to help children describe their health care experiences, in both detail and depth. The children interacted with the software and maintained their interest for an extended period of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Bokström
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - K Fängström
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - R Calam
- School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - S Lucas
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - A Sarkadi
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Pernebo K, Almqvist K. Young children's experiences of participating in group treatment for children exposed to intimate partner violence: A qualitative study. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2016; 21:119-32. [PMID: 25410886 DOI: 10.1177/1359104514558432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The risk of exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) between caregivers is increased during early childhood. The adverse effects on the health and development of the youngest children may be severe. Effective and promising interventions for children who have experienced IPV have been developed and evaluated. However, there is a lack in knowledge about how the children themselves experience the interventions. The aim of this study was to contribute to the evaluation of group treatment designed to improve the psychological health of young children in the aftermath of family violence by elucidating the children's experiences of participating. Nine children, aged 4 to 6 years, were interviewed after participating in group programmes specifically designed for children who have been exposed to intimate partner violence. A semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions was used. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis, to ensure a focus on the children's own views and experiences. Five master themes embracing the children's experiences were identified: joy - positive emotional experience of participation; security - feeling safe; relatedness - relationships within the group; to talk - externalised focus on the violence; and competence - new knowledge and skills. Theoretical and clinical implications and the benefit of including very young children's views and experiences in research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Pernebo
- Unit for Research and Development, Kronoberg County Council, Växjö, Sweden
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Hamilton G, Brubacher SP, Powell MB. Expressions of shame in investigative interviews with Australian Aboriginal children. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2016; 51:64-71. [PMID: 26654863 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Revised: 11/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
This study inspected a sample of 70 interview transcripts with Australian Aboriginal children to gain a sense of how frequently verbal shame responses were occurring in investigative interviews regarding alleged sexual abuse. Transcripts were examined to determine how children articulated shame, how interviewers reacted to these responses, and how shame related to children's accounts. Examination of frequencies revealed that verbal shame responses occurred in just over one-quarter of the interviews. One-way analyses of variance indicated that children who expressed shame within the interview spoke the same amount as children who did not express shame, however, they required more interviewer prompts before a disclosure was made. Interviews where children expressed shame also included a greater number of interviewer reminders compared to interviews without shame responses. Results emphasize the importance of interviewer awareness of shame, and also point to the value of reassurance, patience, and persistence with non-leading narrative prompting when interviewing children who express shame during discussions of sexual abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Hamilton
- Centre for Investigative Interviewing/School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sonja P Brubacher
- Centre for Investigative Interviewing/School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Martine B Powell
- Centre for Investigative Interviewing/School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
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11
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Cleveland KC, Quas JA. Adults' Insensitivity to Developmental Changes in Children's Ability to Report When and How Many Times Abuse Occurred. BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW 2016; 34:126-138. [PMID: 26918951 DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In legal settings, children are frequently asked to provide temporal information about alleged abuse, such as when it occurred and how often. Although there is a sizeable body of work in the literature regarding children's ability to provide such information, virtually nothing is known about how adults evaluate the veracity of that information. This omission is especially noteworthy given that adults' evaluations are critical to the progression and outcome of legal cases. We examined adults' perceptions of children's reports of temporal details regarding alleged sexual abuse. We varied both children's age (6 vs. 11 years) and how certain children were when providing such details to assess whether adults were sensitive to changes in how children of different ages typically talk about temporal information. With regard to credibility, adults were insensitive to children's age, perceiving younger and older children who reported temporal details with confidence as more credible than those who reported information tentatively. Normative developmental trends, however, would suggest that, with age, children are often tentative when reporting true temporal details. With regard to perceptions of children's accuracy in reporting temporal information, adults found younger children who were confident to be the most accurate. Regarding guilt judgments, adults rated defendants as having a higher degree of guilt when children were confident in reporting temporal details. The findings have implications for juror decision-making in cases of alleged sexual abuse in which children report when or how often abuse occurred. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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12
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Brown DA, Lamb ME. Can Children Be Useful Witnesses? It Depends How They Are Questioned. CHILD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/cdep.12142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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13
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The use of ground rules in investigative interviews with children: A synthesis and call for research. DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2015.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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The influence of social instructions on the effectiveness of a cognitive interview used with very young child witnesses. EUROPEAN REVIEW OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.erap.2014.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Peterson C, Fowler T, Brandeau KM. Earliest Memories and Recent Memories of Highly Salient Events—Are They Similar? JOURNAL OF COGNITION AND DEVELOPMENT 2014. [DOI: 10.1080/15248372.2013.879872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Ginet M, Brunel M, Verkampt F, Désert M, Colomb C, Jund R. L’Entretien Cognitif reste-t-il efficace pour aider de très jeunes enfants issus de milieux défavorisés à témoigner d’un événement visuel ? ANNEE PSYCHOLOGIQUE 2014. [DOI: 10.3917/anpsy.142.0289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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Anderson GD, Anderson JN, Gilgun JF. The influence of narrative practice techniques on child behaviors in forensic interviews. JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 2014; 23:615-634. [PMID: 25116863 DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2014.932878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
During investigations of child sexual abuse, forensic interviewers must maintain a delicate balance of providing support for the child while collecting forensic evidence about the abuse allegation required for credible evidence for court purposes. The use of narrative practice techniques can achieve both goals by creating conditions that facilitate the possibility that children will feel safe enough to provide detailed descriptions of the alleged abuse. This article reports findings from an evaluation of a change in practice using the CornerHouse Forensic Interview Protocol in which narrative practice techniques were incorporated into the interview format. Findings show that children provided more detailed accounts of abuse when interviewers used open-ended questions and supportive statements through narrative practice.
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Salmon K, Brown DA. Medical Settings as a Context for Research on Cognitive Development. JOURNAL OF COGNITION AND DEVELOPMENT 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/15248372.2013.772514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Melinder A, Baugerud GA, Ovenstad KS, Goodman GS. Children's memories of removal: a test of attachment theory. J Trauma Stress 2013; 26:125-33. [PMID: 23371403 DOI: 10.1002/jts.21784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
We report a study of parents' attachment orientations and children's autobiographical memory for an experience that according to Bowlby's (1982) attachment theory should be particularly threatening-children's forced separation from their parents. It was hypothesized that individual differences in parents' attachment orientations would be associated with children's distress and memory for this highly traumatic event. Children (n = 28) were observed during forced removal from home or school by Child Protective Services due to allegations of child maltreatment. Children's memory for the removal was tested 1 week later, and biological parents (n = 28) completed an adult attachment measure. Parental attachment anxiety significantly predicted children's distress during less stressful phases of the removal, R(2) = .25, and parents' attachment-related avoidance predicted fewer correct memory reports from the children (i.e., fewer hits to open-ended questions, R(2) = .16, and fewer hits to direct questions, R(2) = .27). The findings indicate that attachment theory provides important guidance for understanding children's autobiographical memory for traumatic events.
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van Nijnatten C, Heestermans M. Communicative empowerment of people with intellectual disability. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY 2012; 37:100-111. [PMID: 22563691 DOI: 10.3109/13668250.2012.678308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Personal narratives are conditional for victims of sexual abuse to overcome their trauma. Counsellors can help victims with intellectual disability to take an active position in conversations about sexuality and to co-construct a personal narrative. METHOD Using discourse and conversational analysis, we studied 4 conversations between a counsellor and a woman with autism and mild intellectual disability. RESULTS In conversation with a counsellor the participant was able to express her inner emotions and understanding about sexual issues and other sensitive topics. She was able also to express disagreement and lack of understanding. CONCLUSION In spite of communication limitations, clients with an intellectual disability can participate actively in conversations with counsellors. Although a helping or encouraging professional approach may also be suggestive and affect the authenticity of the client's narrative, it is the counsellor's duty to prevent distressing effects within the interview.
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O'Neill S, Zajac R. The role of repeated interviewing in children's responses to cross-examination-style questioning. Br J Psychol 2012; 104:14-38. [PMID: 23320440 DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8295.2011.02096.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The negative effect of cross-examination-style questioning on children's accuracy is likely to be due to the complex and credibility-challenging questions that characterize the interview. Given that cross-examination occurs after at least one prior interview, however, it is equally possible that repeated interviewing per se impairs children's accuracy, and that the questions asked have little bearing on children's responses. To examine this issue, 5- and 6-year-old children (n= 82) and 9- and 10-year-old children (n= 103) took part in a surprise event and were then interviewed using an analogue of direct examination. Either 1 week or 6 months later, half of the children were re-interviewed with an analogue of cross-examination designed to challenge their direct examination responses. Remaining children were re-interviewed with the same questions that were asked during direct examination. Children's accuracy decreased following their second interview, irrespective of age or delay; however, delay particularly impacted younger children's second interview performance. Children's accuracy was most impaired following a cross-examination-style interview. Overall, cross-examination-style questioning appears to be particularly detrimental to obtaining accurate event reports from children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah O'Neill
- Psychology Department, Queens College of the City University of New York, USA.
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Salmon K, Pipe ME, Malloy A, Mackay K. Do Non-Verbal Aids Increase the Effectiveness of ‘Best Practice’ Verbal Interview Techniques? An Experimental Study. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.1835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Salmon
- School of Psychology; Victoria University of Wellington; Wellington; New Zealand
| | | | - Alana Malloy
- School of Psychology; Victoria University of Wellington; Wellington; New Zealand
| | - Katherine Mackay
- School of Psychology; Victoria University of Wellington; Wellington; New Zealand
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23
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Maltreated Children's Memory of Stressful Removals from Their Biological Parents. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.1817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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The effects of verbal labels and vocabulary skill on memory and suggestibility. JOURNAL OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2010.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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25
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Kulkofsky S, Principe GF, Debaran FB, Stouch A. Just the facts or just for fun? Children's understanding of and sensitivity to retelling contexts. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2010. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.1744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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26
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Brown DA, Pipe ME, Lewis C, Lamb ME, Orbach Y. Supportive or suggestive: Do human figure drawings help 5- to 7-year-old children to report touch? J Consult Clin Psychol 2007; 75:33-42. [PMID: 17295561 DOI: 10.1037/0022-006x.75.1.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The authors examined the accuracy of information elicited from seventy-nine 5- to 7-year-old children about a staged event that included physical contact-touching. Four to six weeks later, children's recall for the event was assessed using an interview protocol analogous to those used in forensic investigations with children. Following the verbal interview, children were asked about touch when provided with human figure drawings (drawings only), following practice using the human figure drawings (drawings with instruction), or without drawings (verbal questions only). In this touch-inquiry phase of the interview, most children provided new information. Children in the drawings conditions reported more incorrect information than those in the verbal questions condition. Forensically relevant errors were infrequent and were rarely elaborated on. Although asking children to talk about innocuous touch may lead them to report unreliable information, especially when human figure drawings are used as aids, errors are reduced when open-ended prompts are used to elicit further information about reported touches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deirdre A Brown
- Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom.
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