Portuguese adaptation of the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scales (GSS1 and GSS2): Empirical findings

In study 1 (n = 51, Mage = 21.4 years, SD = 5.7), the validity of the Portuguese adaptation of the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scales (Pires, 2011) was shown through the comparison of means of the original (Gudjonsson, 1997) and the translated scales and the analysis of the correlations between the GSS1 and GSS2 scores. The relationships between interrogative suggestibility and the big five were also addressed and the results point to independence between suggestibility and personality, which is in line with Polczyk’s findings (2005). Study 2 (n = 87, Mage = 48.9 years, SD = 20.7) explored the relationships among interrogative suggestibility, the state–trait anxiety and demographic variables (i.e., age and gender). There were no significant relationships between anxiety and suggestibility. These results are in line with other studies that point to a lack of relationship between suggestibility and anxiety in normal samples ( Polczyk, 2005 and Wolfradt and Meyer, 1998). As for the relationships between age and interrogative suggestibility, ANCOVA confirmed that the increased suggestibility in old age was not due to age differences but rather to the limited memory capacity of the older adults group. There were no significant gender differences in the GSS1 subscales.

► No significant correlations between the big five and interrogative suggestibility. ► No significant correlations between state/trait anxiety and suggestibility. ► Higher suggestibility in old age is due to lower memory capacity. ► No significant gender differences in the GSS1.