NCJ Number
223964
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal Volume: 32 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2008 Pages: 738-748
Date Published
July 2008
Length
11 pages
Annotation
In two studies, the potential effects of a promise to tell the truth and reassurance on young maltreated children’s disclosure of a minor transgression were examined.
Abstract
Taken together, the two studies suggest that a child-friendly version of the oath increases testimonially competent maltreated children’s true disclosures without increasing false disclosures. Both studies found some evidence that children were more likely to acknowledge transgressions by an ally than by themselves, and that when they admitted self-transgressions, they were more likely to admit only less invasive actions. This supports the notion that children’s disclosures are based on their judgments regarding the consequences to themselves of disclosure. Whether abused children can be encouraged to disclose their maltreatment without risking the occurrence of false allegations is a serious issue. This research explored the potential for increasing maltreated children’s willingness to disclose transgressions without also increasing false alarms. Two studies examined the effects of the oath or reassurance (“truth induction”) on 5- and 7-year-old maltreated children’s true and false reports of a minor transgression. In Study 1, children were encouraged to play with an attractive toy by a confederate or friend, who then informed them that they might get in trouble for playing. In Study 2, a confederate engaged children in play, but did not play with the attractive toy. References