Individual Differences in Children's Suggestibility: An Updated Review. Issue 2 (17th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Klemfuss, J. Zoe; Olaguez, Alma P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of child sexual abuse. Volume 29:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 158
• Page End: 182
• Publication Date: 2020-02-17
• Subjects: Individual differences -- suggestibility -- misinformation -- misleading -- child witness -- child abuse -- forensic interviewing -- review; Child sexual abuse -- Periodicals; Child sexual abuse -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Child molesters -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Sexually abused children -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Child Abuse, Sexual -- Periodicals; 362.76
• DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2018.1508108
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1053-8712

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The present review is intended as an overview of our current understanding of how children's individual characteristics, in terms of demographic, cognitive, and psycho-social variables, may influence their susceptibility to suggestion. The goals are to revisit conceptual models of the mechanisms of suggestibility, to provide an updated practical guide for practitioners, and to make recommendations for future research. Results suggest that children with intellectual impairment and those with nascent language skills may be particularly vulnerable to suggestion. Further, memory for separate events, theory of mind, executive function, temperament, and social competence may not be related to suggestibility, whereas additional work is needed to clarify the potential contributions of knowledge, stress, mental health, parental elaborative style, and adverse experiences/maltreatment to children's suggestibility.