November 2007, VOLUME 35, NUMBER 2, Abstract 3
The Effect of Emotional Arousal on Recall and Interrogative Suggestibility
Colette Roos, Queensland University of Technology
Kathryn Gow, Queensland University of Technology
This study investigated the influence of induced emotional arousal on the recall semantic memory, and on interrogative suggestibility and confabulation. Two hundred and twenty-four psychology students participated in the study. Arousal, as measured by self-reports in mood change, was induced in the experimental groups using an emotionally arousing video. The control group was shown an emotionally neutral video. Memory scores on immediate and delayed recall of a short story and scores on interrogative suggestibility and confabulation, using Gudjonsson’s Scale, Form 2 (GSS 2), were obtained. The results found that participants who viewed the emotionally arousing video did report greater levels of arousal than the control group. Indeed, participants who were emotionally aroused had lower levels of accurate recall; however, the hypothesis that arousal would significantly affect suggestibility and confabulation was not supported. Age and gender effects are also explored in this paper.