Running head: CHILDRENS MEMORY

Research Review: Memory Development in Children

Super Student
University of the Virgin Islands

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Memory Development in Children

Alessi and Ballard (2001) start off by discussing the basic development of the brain and
memories in children. It was found that increased stress or trauma inhibits memory storage and
recall in the hippocampus, and thus brings more understanding to the lack of recall from
traumatic childhood memories.
The article then discusses its effects on infants and children between the ages of 3 and 6,
with reference to Piagets cognitive development theory. It discusses the controversial topic of
repressed memories, and mentions that though some repressed memories can be recalled
accurately, there are also cases of false memories (Alessi & Ballard, 2001, p. 399).
To test the memory recall in children, experimenters had them play a touching game.
Experimenters took notes on the all aspects of the game and described in detail everything that
happened. One month later experimenters questioned the children and found that when
questions were based on accurate information about the childs experience, the information
extracted included no false memories. However, when the interviewer had inaccurate
information 34% of 3-4 year olds and 18% of 5-6 year olds confirmed one or more false events
(Alessi & Ballard, 2001, p. 400).
Studies like this have been seen as inaccurate because children tend to recall information
best when the same environment and emotional state is recreated, but to recreate the trauma and
stress of an instance of abuse is inhumane. It is still found that most cases of inaccurate recall
occur in children three and four years of age. The article then discusses interview methods that
are less suggestive to inaccurate memories, and emphasizes using non verbal aids and toys when
interviewing children. It concludes with the importance of understanding memory in children
while addressing sensitive topics, and the level of recall, and suggestiveness, that young children
are still vulnerable to. Because the human brain works in such a way, it points out that everyone,

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no matter what age, has recalled some false information at one time or another, but we should
look deeper for the truths that are weaved into the inaccurate memories (Alessi & Ballard, 2001,
p. 402).
Critique
This article seemed to be more informational than experimental. It pointed out a lot of
good points about the importance of understanding memory development in children as well as
all ages. It primarily focused on sexual abuse survivors and their ability to recall accurate
information from the assaults. I agree with the fact that trying to recreate a traumatic
environment to enhance childrens recall is inhumane. I also agree that the use of toys and nonverbal aids should be used more frequently than questioning.
Piagets cognitive development stages in early childhood help to explain and gain a better
understanding of where the child is in their thinking. The children in the study were primarily
between the ages of two and four, therefore putting them in the preoperational stage of thinking.
In this stage there is an increased use of symbols and symbolic play which use actions, images
and words to represent objects and events (Craig & Baucum, 2002, p. 251). This implies that
children in this stage of life would be able to recall and describe an event better if they were to
recreate it themselves with dolls, through pictures, or hands on toys (Craig & Baucum).
I believe that child sexual abuse is a very serious topic, but maybe having children recall
to the best of their knowledge on the stand isnt the way to go. I think they need to rely more on
facts and evidence when trying to convict parents of sexual abuse. I know sometimes there isnt
a lot of evidence. One incident I recall from my childhood was my dad telling us to run and tell
someone if we saw a man that he pointed out to us in a grocery store. My dad was a probation
officer for many criminals, some of whom were pedophiles. I remember a year later while I was

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in a hobby shop with my dad and brother I walked down an isle to look at the model planes and
trains. The man whom my dad pointed out to us a year prior approached me and was asking me
which plane was my favorite. He offered to pick me up so I could look at them better, but I just
started to back away. I found my dad near the front of the store and told him that the bad man
was here. He didnt know what I was talking about so I took him by the hand and brought him to
the bad man. My dad escorted the man from the store, and I remember watching my dad yell
at him from the store window.
My memory at the age of six prevented some child sexual abusers from taking advantage
of me. I was lucky that nothing did happen with this man, because if he had picked me up and
fondled me there would have been no evidence, and they would have to rely on my descriptions
of him and details as to what happened, and who knows if they would have believed what I had
to say or not. That is why this issue is so controversial as to the truth, but also so important.

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References
Alessi, H. D., & Ballard, M. B. (2001). Memory development in children: Implications for
children as witnesses in situations of possible abuse. Journal of Counseling and
Development, 79, 398- 405. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.2001.tb01986.x
Craig, G. J., & Baucum, D. (2002). Human development (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Pearson.