What is a potential consequence of not debriefing after deception?

• A. Participants may hold misconceptions.
• B. It improves deception's effectiveness.
• C. It prevents distress.
• D. It has no ethical implications.

Answer: (A)

Not debriefing after deception can leave participants with misconceptions about the study or their own performance. If the true purpose and the fact that they were deceived aren’t explained, they might develop incorrect beliefs about what happened, why certain tasks were used, or what their results mean. These misbeliefs can influence their attitudes toward psychology and research in the future, and even how they respond in similar situations. Debriefing helps by revealing the deception, clarifying the real aims, and restoring trust, which reduces the chance of persistent misunderstandings and potential harm. It’s not that deception itself becomes more effective without debriefing; rather, failing to debrief can create ethical issues and ongoing distress that should be addressed.