The Role of Familiarity Among Group Members in Collaborative Inhibition and Social Contagion

Bibliographic Data

ID5338600
AuthorsMüjde Peker (0000-0003-4608-5217, University of Kent, corresponding author), Ali I Tekcan (0000-0001-5888-103X, Bogaziçi University)
Year2009
Volume40
Issue3
Pages111-118
Publication date2009-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1864-9335 • E-ISSN: 2151-2590
PublisherHogrefe Publishing Group (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1027/1864-9335.40.3.111
OpenAlexW1979779587
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited30

The present study looks at the effects of familiarity among group members on collaborative inhibition, false memory creation, and social contagion. Friend, nonfriend (adhoc) and nominal three-person groups studied categorized wordlists, followed by free recall and recognition tests, including remember/know judgments. Friend and nonfriend group members were asked to engage in collaborative recall, while nominal group members were tested individually. Results showed that collaborative inhibition was evident among friend and nonfriend groups. However, these detrimental effects of collaboration disappeared during recognition judgments. In terms of susceptibility to false memory creation, it was found that friend groups showed higher levels of social contagion and made more know than remember judgments than nonfriend and nominal group members. These findings suggest that friend group members took the veracity of others' memories for granted and were less able to make clear distinctions between what they did and did not see. The findings are discussed in relation to the lasting effects of collaboration and social pressures on group recall among friend and nonfriend groups

Cognitive psychology · Emotional contagion · Recall · Social group · Social memory · Deception detection and forensic psychology · Identity, Memory, and Therapy · Memory Processes and Influences · Psychology · Social Psychology