A finding from some research was that false memories for negative experiences can be created during childhood. Describe two ways in which the study by Laney et al. (false memory) differs from this finding.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Feb/Mar 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] (a) This study examines positive memories/experiences, not negative ones;
2. [1] (a) e.g., it focused on participants 'liking' asparagus or pickle soup, not trauma or fear.
3. [1] (a) The participants were not children, but undergraduates/adults;
4. [1] (a) e.g., their childhood memories were investigated while they were adults, rather than creating false memories in children directly.
5. [4] (b) (Result 1 & Learning) Believers in the 'love asparagus' group reported a significant increase in their liking for asparagus and willingness to eat it (FHI and RQ scores). This shows that false memories for positive childhood experiences can be successfully implanted in adults, demonstrating memory's reconstructive nature.
6. [4] (b) (Result 2 & Learning) The 'love asparagus' group chose to eat significantly more asparagus compared to a control group in the restaurant menu task (FPQ). This indicates that implanted false memories can not only change attitudes but also influence subsequent behaviour, suggesting potential applications in areas like diet modification or therapy.