Effects of coping style on interrogative suggestibility

Participants identified as either emotion-focused (n=25) or problem-focused (n=25) in their coping style using the COPE questionnaire were assessed for suggestibility using the Gujonsson suggestibility scales (GSS1). Results indicated that the problem-focused group were resistant to the effects of leading questions (lower Yield 1) relative to the emotion-focused group, but the groups did not differ on the post-feedback measure (Shift) or on measures of free recall. A possible mechanism is suggested to mediate the effects of coping on interrogative suggestibility: a focused attention to task-relevant cues is said to immunise against suggestibility, while a diffuse attention to task-irrelevant cues is said to facilitate coping strategies that enhance suggestibility.