Need for Cognition Is Related to the Rejection (but Not the Acceptance) of False Memories

Abstract

Need for cognition (NFC) and rates of false recognition were studied in the context of the memory conjunction paradigm. Past research has shown that NFC is related to false recognition and false recall (Graham, 2007; Leding, 2011) in the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm, with high-NFC people experiencing more false memories. The present study extended this research to determine whether the findings of high-NFC people experiencing higher levels of false memories could be extended to other false memory paradigms. The present study also examined rates of high-confidence rejections of lures and recollection rejection responses. It was found that there were no significant differences for high- and low-NFC people in false recognition but that high-NFC people were more likely to use high-confidence rejections and have recollection rejection responses when they did reject lures.