Os efeitos da indução de estereótipos na memória de crianças

Abstract

This Master's research embraces two studies, one theoretical and one empirical. The first paper presents, through a non-systematic review of the literature, the main factors present in the phenomenon of parental alienation that could damage the quality of children s reports and also cause distortion of its memory. The factors identified (a) Stereotype Induction, (b) Exposure to Suggestions, (c) Figure of Authority and (d) Absence of Counterexample are discussed in light of scientific studies on children's memory and suggestibility. The empirical session proposes a new experimental paradigm in which the stereotype induction factor was tested. Sixty-four preschoolers (39 girls) received the visit of an adult male named scientist Samuel, who presented to the children in their classroom a brief demonstration of science. After the visit, ten reports containing information about Samuel as a clumsy and careless person were transmitted to the Stereotype Group, one per day. To potentiate the stereotype induction, the reports were transmitted by the teacher of the children, which is a highly credible authority figure towards the children. The Control Group received no information about the scientist. Afterwards, children memory of all the about the scientist´s visit of was tested. The individual interview of each child was conducted by a trained interviewer in investigative interview techniques. All interviews included the following phases: rapport, free narrative, closed questions (recognition test) and closure. Processing of data followed three different steps: verbatim transcription, hide text and categorization. Data analyses yielded results indicating that the Stereotype Group reported a greater number of inaccurate stereotype consistent information compared to the Control Group. The forensic implications of these results are discussed in relation to children´s testimony.