Human memory is not a perfect recording of events.
Memories can change over time.
Adults can sometimes remember events incorrectly, and children’s memories can be even more vulnerable to suggestion and reconstruction.
A child who says something unusual may be sincerely reporting what they believe they remember.
That does not necessarily mean the event actually occurred in the way the child describes it.
Could the Child Have Learned the Information Normally?
Another question researchers would need to consider is whether the child could have obtained the information through ordinary means.
For example, investigators would need to determine:
- Who the child had spoken with
- What the child had previously heard
- What books or videos were available to the child
- Whether adults had discussed the subject nearby
- Whether the information was publicly available
- Whether the child’s statements were recorded before investigators found the alleged evidence
These details are important because they can
