Notes that a multitude of studies have demonstrated that misleading postevent information affects people's memories. Contents that the fuzzy-trace theory is a positive step toward understanding the malleability of memory. Discusses fuzzy-trace theory in terms of three primary areas of study: altered response format, maximized misinformation…

Notes that spontaneous false memories are a routine part of everyday memory and more common than implanted false memory. Commends the fuzzy-trace theory for the separation and explanation of these two sources of inaccuracy. Demonstrates the theory's handling of three phenomena concerning the creation and maintenance of false memories. (LBT)

Notes that fuzzy-trace theory provides a link between indices of memory performance and the theoretical processes that underlie that performance. Author argues false memories can arise because of processes that normally affect forgetting. Maintains that, to the extent that memories lose their distinctive properties, such memories may become…

Suggests that fuzzy-trace theory may replace dominant metaphors of cognitive development. Discusses theoretical climate of the 1980s when the theory was first formulated. Describes how, by integrating new ideas about how cognitive development was viewed into a coherent framework, the theory slowly gained acceptance as critical aspects of it were…

Results indicated that expectations concerning success were determined by past achievement and by evaluative feedback. Immediate past performance had a stronger relative influence on expectations and performance than evaluative feedback. Feedback had a relatively greater effect on self-evaluation. (Author/DB)

The relationship between higher order reasoning and sex bias was investigated among children 7, 9 and 11 years old. Children read arguments enhancing their own or other gender, then rated argument intelligence, judged other children based on observations, and justified their arguments. Findings showed that own-gender reasoning biases declined with…

Examined second-, third-, fifth-, and sixth-graders' evaluations of parent-child inductive discipline situations. Found that for physical transgressions, victim-oriented induction was evaluated as more appropriate and fair than parent-oriented induction. Younger children evaluated parent-oriented induction as more appropriate than older children.…

Investigated 4-, 8-, and 11-year-olds' ability to categorize intentionally false and true statements as lies and truths. Found that older children were more likely to categorize false statements as lies and true statements as truths than were 4-year-olds. Antisocial lies were rated as most serious, and "white lies" as least serious.…

Compares story character judgments of elementary school children to determine whether they would (1) attribute greater social anxiety to characters more motivated to create a desired impression on audience but were doubtful of ability to do so; (2) associate greater social anxiety with behaviors likely to impede behavioral performance; and (3)…

Two experiments examined the determinants of children's belief or disbelief of statements made to them by other children. In both, the personal characteristics of the child transmitting the message were varied against message type and age of child receiving the message; transmitter characteristics were relative age and social dominance. (RH)

Comments that fuzzy-trace theory is broadly comprehensive and contains compelling experimental manipulations; debates assumptions of the theory. Describes aspects of the historical and theoretical context of the theory and its usefulness in organizing false memory phenomena. Suggests some limitations concerning the representation of child…

Describes the origins of fuzzy-trace theory, including Piagetian, interference, information-processing, and judgment and decision-making influences. Discusses similarities and differences between fuzzy-trace theory and other approaches to memory falsification. Considers the theory's predictions regarding age differences in memory falsification and…

This study examined the development of children's decisionmaking abilities and the effects of age and gender differences on their use of probability, gain, and loss information about risky alternatives. Subjects were 158 children of 7-13 years of age who were observed during a task in which they chose among alternative gambles in a computer game.…

Explores children's understanding of a variety of interpersonal events, focusing mainly on the question of whether, and in what way, their conceptions of these events were heterogeneous or undifferentiated. (HOD)

Examines the lack of information about how children evaluate what they read and why they select particular reading materials. Offers approaches to understanding reading preferences and ways to encourage evaluative skills. Suggests six criteria for selecting good children's literature and ideas about using children's magazines to help express…