Similarity and attraction effects in episodic memory judgments.
In the decision-making literature, it is known that preferences between two options can be influenced in different ways by the introduction of a third option. We investigated whether such influences could be demonstrated when making decisions about qualitative aspects of episodic memories. In a baseline condition, participants were asked which of two dissimilar events they remembered more vividly: (A) a well-known Olympic victory, or (B) the death of a well-known public figure. In two further conditions, a third event was added: (C) an Olympic victory similar and competitive to A, or (D) an Olympic victory similar but inferior to A. With the addition of C, participants were less likely to choose A than B (similarity effect), whereas with the addition of D, they were more likely to choose A than B (attraction effect), suggesting that effects known in decision-making can be generalised to relative judgments about episodic memories.
Maylor
Elizabeth A
EA
Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. e.a.maylor@warwick.ac.uk
Roberts
Matthew A J
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003071:Cognition; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory