Variability in False Memories: A Multilevel Approach to Individual Differences

Memory is a fundamental cognitive function that allows individuals to store, retrieve and reconstruct past experiences, yet it is also prone to distortions in each of these phases, such as false memories. In this study, we explored individual differences in false memory formation for emotionally charged events by investigating the influence of psychopathic traits and alexithymia. We hypothesized that individuals with higher psychopathic traits would exhibit reduced false memories for these events, whereas those with higher alexithymia scores would show increased susceptibility to memory distortions. Participants completed the Emotional False Memory Paradigm, followed by a working memory task and a confidence assessment using the Remember-Know paradigm. Additionally, psychopathic traits, alexithymia and emotional states (anxiety and depression) were evaluated through validated self-report measures. Results indicated that psychopathic traits were linked to lower overall recognition accuracy, but did not offer protection against false memories. In contrast, higher alexithymia scores were linked to greater false memory susceptibility, suggesting that emotional processing deficits impair memory reliability. These findings highlight the role of personality in shaping memory distortions, with significant implications for forensic psychology and eyewitness testimony. Future research should further investigate cognitive mechanisms underlying these effects and refine methodologies for assessing memory reliability.