Qualitative aspects of malingered memory deficits

Abstract

Much has been written in recent years on methods for detecting malingered memory deficits. However, previous research has focused exclusively on quantitative analyses of the data. The purpose of this study was to investigate more qualitative aspects of malingering. Undergraduates, community volunteers, psychiatric inpatients, and federal inmates who participated in analogue malingering studies were interviewed to elicit their self-reported strategies for faking memory impairment. Some of these subjects indicated that if they were to malinger they may show poor cooperation, aggravation and frustration, slow response times and frequent hesitations, and general confusion during the testing process. The strategy reported with the greatest frequency was to fake total amnesia (i.e. for personal identity, past knowledge, family and friends, and all aspects of the accident).