Similarity and attraction effects in episodic memory judgments

Cognition. 2007 Dec;105(3):715-23. doi: 10.1016/j.cognition.2006.12.002. Epub 2007 Jan 16.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Attitude*
  • Cognition
  • Decision Making
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Judgment*
  • Male
  • Memory*