Eyewitness Testimony and Factors Affecting Recall

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Questions and Answers

What is the impact of schemas on eyewitness testimony?

  • They have no impact on eyewitness testimony
  • They improve recall due to distraction
  • They lead to potential inaccuracies in eyewitness testimony (correct)
  • They help in constructing accurate memories

How can post-event discussion influence eyewitness testimony?

  • It results in memory conformity where witnesses alter their recall to match others' accounts (correct)
  • It decreases recall due to distraction
  • It improves eyewitness testimony by making witnesses more alert
  • It has no impact on eyewitness testimony

According to the Yerkes-Dodson law of arousal, what happens to recall with increasing anxiety?

  • Recall becomes less accurate with increasing anxiety
  • Recall improves with increasing anxiety up to a point (correct)
  • Recall is not affected by anxiety
  • Anxiety has a negative impact on recall

What is a criticism of lab-based research in the context of eyewitness testimony?

<p>It has no consequences or demand characteristics (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What impact can misleading information, such as leading questions, have on eyewitness testimony?

<p>It can alter memories and influence responses (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Bartlett's theory, is memory an accurate snapshot of the past?

<p>No, memory is reconstructive (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can anxiety impact eyewitness testimony according to research?

<p>Anxiety can both decrease and increase recall depending on the level (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the potential impact of post-event discussion between witnesses on eyewitness testimony?

<p>It can result in memory conformity, altering recall to match others' accounts (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Yerkes-Dodson law of arousal explain about recall?

<p>Recall improves with increasing anxiety up to a point, then becomes less accurate (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Johnson and Scott's research show about eyewitness testimony at a violent crime scene?

<p>Anxiety caused by a violent crime scene resulted in less accurate eyewitness testimony due to weapon focus (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a criticism of lab-based research in the context of eyewitness testimony?

<p>&quot;Lab-based research lacks real-world consequences and may be influenced by demand characteristics&quot; (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are schemas considered to potentially impact eyewitness testimony?

<p>&quot;Schemas are used to understand the world and construct memories, potentially leading to inaccuracies in eyewitness testimony&quot; (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

"What ethical concerns arise in asking participants to recall details of a murder?"

<p>&quot;Participants may experience trauma due to recalling details of a murder&quot; (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of anxiety on recall, according to the Yerkes-Dodson law of arousal?

<p>Recall improves with increasing anxiety, making witnesses more alert (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can post-event discussion between witnesses influence eyewitness testimony?

<p>It results in memory conformity, with witnesses altering their recall to match others' accounts (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Johnson and Scott's research show about the impact of anxiety caused by a violent crime scene on eyewitness testimony?

<p>It leads to less accurate eyewitness testimony due to weapon focus (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a criticism of lab-based research in the context of eyewitness testimony?

<p>It lacks consequences and demand characteristics (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does misleading information, such as leading questions, influence eyewitness testimony?

<p>It alters memories or influences responses (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Bartlett's theory, is memory an accurate snapshot of the past?

<p>No, memory is reconstructive and not an accurate snapshot of the past (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What impact can schemas have on eyewitness testimony?

<p>Schemas can influence the construction of memories and potentially lead to inaccuracies (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential effect of anxiety on eyewitness testimony?

<p>Anxiety can either decrease or increase recall depending on the level (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What ethical concerns arise in asking participants to recall details of a murder?

<p>Participants may be emotionally affected by recalling details of a murder (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Schemas

Mental frameworks that organize information and influence our understanding of events

Memory Conformity

The tendency for eyewitness accounts to become more similar after discussing the event with others

Yerkes-Dodson Law

A psychological principle stating that performance improves with moderate levels of arousal but deteriorates with extreme levels

Lab-Based Research

Research conducted in a controlled environment, often involving artificial tasks and scenarios

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Leading Questions

Questions phrased in a way that suggests a particular answer, potentially influencing a witness's memory

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Reconstructive Memory

The idea that memory is not a perfect recording but rather a reconstruction based on existing knowledge and expectations

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Anxiety and Eyewitness Testimony

The phenomenon where heightened emotional arousal can impact the accuracy of eyewitness testimony

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Weapon Focus

The tendency for witnesses to focus on the weapon used in a crime, potentially reducing their attention to other details

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Demand Characteristics

The potential for participants in research to alter their behavior due to awareness of being observed

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Ethical Concerns in Eyewitness Research

Ethical considerations related to asking participants to recall traumatic events

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Study Notes

  • Eyewitness testimony is used in courts to provide evidence, but its accuracy is questionable.
  • Memory is reconstructive, not an accurate snapshot of the past, according to Bartlett's theory.
  • Schemas, packages of information, are used to understand the world and construct memories, leading to potential inaccuracies in eyewitness testimony.
  • Misleading information, such as leading questions, can influence eyewitness testimony by altering memories or influencing responses.
  • Post-event discussion between witnesses can result in memory conformity, where witnesses alter their recall to match others' accounts.
  • Anxiety is a factor that can impact eyewitness testimony, with some research suggesting it decreases recall due to distraction, while others argue high anxiety increases recall by making witnesses more alert.
  • The Yerkes-Dodson law of arousal explains that recall improves with increasing anxiety up to a point, but becomes less accurate when the witness becomes too anxious.
  • Johnson and Scott conducted research showing that anxiety caused by a violent crime scene can result in less accurate eyewitness testimony due to weapon focus.
  • Criticisms of lab-based research include the lack of consequences and demand characteristics, while real-world applications of research, such as the cognitive interview, have higher validity.
  • Ethical concerns include the potential trauma of asking participants to recall details of a murder.

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