If affirmations are linked to one's memory, perceptual abilities, or independent thinking, it should increase their reliance on their own memory. Someone who undergoes RSA should favor their own account of the event, rather than the false details. In addition, hearing positive feedback has been shown to increase motivation, improving task performance. 

Why RSA Reduces Misinformation Susceptibility 

Using an RSA paradigm increases a person's self confidence, decreasing their susceptibility to the misinformation effect. Positive feedback is a relatively simple tool that could be used to make people less likely to be tricked by misleading information. 

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Since self-confidence and memory are positively linked, it is thought that a positive self-image should be linked to lower susceptibility to the misinformation effect. This hypothesis assumes that susceptibility to misinformation is at least in part due to a lack of confidence in one's memories. 

Positive feedback to protect against the misinformation effect

A technique used to increase one's self-confidence. Can involve having a person consider their greatest achievements and giving them positive feedback about their cognitive abilities. 

Reinforced Self-Affirmation (RSA)

Szpitalak, M. & Polczyk, R. (2019). Inducing resistance to the misinformation
effect by means of reinforced self-affirmation: The importance of positive feedback. PLoS ONE 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210987

Inducing resistance to the misinformation
effect by means of reinforced self-affirmation: The importance of positive feedback

RSA and the misinformation effect

An RSA protocol aimed at increasing one's confidence in their memory. Ex: Asking subjects to memorize as many words as possible from a collection. Telling them they scored above average on their memory. 

Memory Reinforced Self-Affirmation

An RSA protocol aimed at increasing one's confidence in their perceptual abilities. Ex. Having subjects identify as any differences between two pictures as possible. Telling participants that they found more differences than the average person. 

Perceptual Reinforced Self-Affirmation

An RSA protocol aimed at making someone feel like a more independent thinker. Ex. Giving a personality test and showing results like "You are an independent thinker", "You like to share your opinions", "You subconsciously rely on your intuition", etc. 

Learn Before

Related

Learn After