Eyewitness Testimony and Memory Biases
52 Questions
0 Views

Eyewitness Testimony and Memory Biases

Created by
@LikableBromine2959

Questions and Answers

What is the main concern regarding eyewitness testimony?

  • Eyewitnesses always provide accurate details.
  • Eyewitnesses never forget important events.
  • Eyewitness memories can be distorted and biased. (correct)
  • Eyewitnesses require little to no questioning.
  • Eyewitnesses can sometimes remember entire events that did not actually happen.

    True

    Name one factor that can influence an eyewitness's recollection of an event.

    Interviews by police or lawyers.

    Eyewitness testimony can impede _____ due to memory errors.

    <p>justice</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their definitions:

    <p>Eyewitness Testimony = The account given in court by someone who witnessed a crime. Memory Bias = The tendency for people's memories to be influenced by various factors. Misinformation Effect = Incorporating misleading info into one's memory of an event. False Memory = A recollection of an event that did not happen or occurred differently.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a common mistake made by eyewitnesses?

    <p>Misremembering key details of the event.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Eyewitness testimony is often considered to be weak evidence in court due to its reliability.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the main learning objectives regarding eyewitness testimony?

    <p>Describe the kinds of mistakes that eyewitnesses commonly make.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of DNA exoneration cases have been attributed to faulty eyewitness testimony?

    <p>75%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Eyewitness testimony is the least persuasive form of evidence presented in court.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the man identified as the rapist by Jennifer Thompson?

    <p>Ronald Cotton</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The phenomenon where inaccurate information contaminates a witness's memory is known as the ________ effect.

    <p>misinformation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their definitions:

    <p>Misinformation Effect = Inaccuracy induced by misleading information post-event Eyewitness Testimony = A person’s account of an event they have seen DNA Exoneration = Release from prison due to new evidence proving innocence Co-witness contamination = Mutual influence in memory recall among witnesses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which condition increases the likelihood of misinformation affecting eyewitness memory?

    <p>Witnesses discussing the event with each other</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Children are generally less susceptible to misinformation than young adults.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the misleading question asked to subjects after they viewed a slideshow of a car accident?

    <p>How fast was the car traveling when it passed the yield sign?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The event where a person identifies the wrong individual as a perpetrator leads to a ________ conviction.

    <p>wrongful</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of signals were used in the study involving different video perspectives?

    <p>Polarized glasses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Most inaccuracies in eyewitness testimony are intentional.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor can significantly influence an eyewitness's identification accuracy?

    <p>Viewing conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Eyewitnesses are typically shown lineups that consist only of actual suspects.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major outcome can result from faulty eyewitness testimony?

    <p>Wrongful conviction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The study of eyewitness memory revealed that even slight differences in question wording could lead to ________ effects.

    <p>misinformation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used for the phenomenon where a person cannot recall a name that feels just out of reach?

    <p>tip-of-the-tongue effect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the researchers with their contributions to eyewitness memory studies:

    <p>Loftus = Pioneered misinformation effect research Allan = Studied effects in social situations Gabbert = Demonstrated co-witness memory contamination Bartlett = Examined memory in various age groups</p> Signup and view all the answers

    One way to minimize memory errors in eyewitness identification is to conduct __________ lineups.

    <p>double blind</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following types of memory errors with their descriptions:

    <p>Forgotten events = Experiencing difficulty recalling details Mixing details = Confusing elements from different memories Fabricated memories = Remembering events that never happened</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a target absent lineup, what is the expected correct choice for a witness?

    <p>Make no selection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Schemata can hinder the recall of certain details about a situation.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name two factors that can lead to errors in eyewitness identifications.

    <p>Poor vision, stressful witnessing experience</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The investigation of a suspect may progress if the eyewitness __________ the suspect from the lineup.

    <p>identifies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an essential characteristic of a fair lineup?

    <p>All members match the description given by the eyewitness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Memory errors become easier to correct once they are made.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential consequence of a witness identifying a foil during a lineup?

    <p>The investigation may move in another direction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Eyewitnesses can make mistakes due to factors like __________, too little time to view, and delay.

    <p>poor vision</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their definitions:

    <p>Foil = An innocent person in a lineup Target present = The suspect is in the lineup Target absent = The suspect is not in the lineup</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of schemata in memory systems?

    <p>To form recognizable patterns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    False memories can only occur in therapy settings.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of event did subjects falsely remember in Loftus & Pickrell's study?

    <p>Being lost in a shopping mall</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The phenomenon where a person recalls an event that did not actually happen is known as a __________.

    <p>false memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the false memory study with its associated event:

    <p>Wade et al. (2002) = Hot air balloon experience Braun et al. (2002) = Meeting Bugs Bunny at Disneyland Bernstein et al. (2005) = Getting sick from specific food Hyman et al. (1995) = Spilled punch at a wedding</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method was NOT mentioned for creating false memories?

    <p>Hypnosis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Eyewitness testimony is known to be completely reliable.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one significant impact of false memory on individuals?

    <p>Altered behavior or attitudes toward certain foods or experiences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Therapists claimed that patients were __________ genuine memories of past abuses.

    <p>recovering</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the study type with its false memory technique:

    <p>Lindsay et al. (2004) = Class prank story enhancement Wade et al. (2002) = Photoshopped hot air balloon Loftus &amp; Ketcham (1994) = Therapeutic recollection of abuse Braun et al. (2002) = Disney advertisements</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the outcome of early false memory studies involving family members?

    <p>Subjects frequently remembered the fabricated events</p> Signup and view all the answers

    False memories are easy to differentiate from true memories.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one factor that can corrupt eyewitness memory.

    <p>Leading questions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    False memories are often created through __________ manipulation.

    <p>feedback</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of memories are particularly affected by co-witness conversations?

    <p>Episodic memories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Memory retrieval always involves recollecting accurate information.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Eyewitness Testimony and Memory Biases

    • Eyewitness testimony plays a crucial role in legal proceedings but is prone to errors and biases that can distort reality.
    • Human memory is not a perfect recording; it is suggestible and subject to inaccuracies.

    Importance of Eyewitness Testimony

    • Considered one of the most persuasive forms of evidence in court, eyewitness testimony can lead to wrongful convictions.
    • Faulty eyewitness accounts implicated in over 75% of DNA exoneration cases, highlighting the risk of mistaken identity.

    Misinformation Effect

    • Introduced misinformation can alter a witness's memory, leading to incorrect recollections of events.
    • Example: A study showed participants misremembering traffic signs after being subjected to leading questions.
    • Memory contamination can occur even with unintentional misinformation, affecting individuals' ability to accurately recall events.

    Memory and Co-witness Interaction

    • Witnesses discussing an event can inadvertently influence each other's memories, leading to inaccuracies.
    • Studies using polarized lenses demonstrated that participants could misremember details after collaborative discussions.

    Eyewitness Identification Processes

    • Eyewitnesses often identify suspects from lineups or photo spreads, which can lead to errors influenced by various factors such as stress or viewing conditions.
    • Common misconceptions include mistakenly identifying foils in lineups or failing to choose any individual in a target-present lineup.
    • Proper lineup procedures, including unbiased instructions and sequential presentation, can help reduce identification errors.

    Types of Memory Biases

    • Memory can be affected by numerous biases, including forgetting details, mixing up events, and forming false memories.
    • Schemata help simplify memory recall but may lead to recalling generic or incorrect details instead of specific occurrences.

    False Memories

    • False memories can be created through suggestive practices, with individuals often believing they experienced events that never occurred.
    • Studies showed that misinformation, when reinforced through therapy or external suggestions, can lead to the development of entire false narratives, such as alleged childhood abuses.

    Conclusion on Eyewitness Testimony

    • The reliability of eyewitness testimony is highly questionable due to the ease with which memory can be influenced and distorted.
    • Efforts to strengthen the procedures surrounding eyewitness identification are crucial to preventing miscarriages of justice.### Issues with Eyewitness Memory
    • Eyewitness memory can be distorted by factors such as leading questions and misinterpretations.
    • Conversations with co-witnesses and personal expectations can further corrupt recollection.
    • Individuals may falsely remember entire events that never took place.
    • Challenges with eyewitness memory pose significant issues within legal proceedings.
    • The legal system often relies heavily on eyewitness testimony, despite its potential inaccuracies.

    Recommendations for Improvement

    • Specific recommendations have been proposed to address eyewitness memory corruption.
    • Some measures focus on legal procedures, detailing optimal techniques for interviewing witnesses and conducting lineups.
    • Educational initiatives emphasize providing jurors and evaluators with expert insights into eyewitness memory.

    Value vs. Accuracy of Eyewitness Testimony

    • While eyewitness testimony can be valuable in legal contexts, research indicates it is frequently overvalued relative to its actual accuracy.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    This quiz explores the critical role of eyewitness testimony in legal settings and examines the biases that can affect memory accuracy. It highlights the impact of misinformation, the influence of co-witness interactions, and the implications for wrongful convictions. Test your knowledge of these important issues surrounding memory and justice.

    More Quizzes Like This

    Eyewitness Testimony and Factors Affecting Recall
    22 questions
    Lecture 2: Eyewitness Memory
    37 questions

    Lecture 2: Eyewitness Memory

    WellRoundedRooster7984 avatar
    WellRoundedRooster7984
    Psychology of Eyewitness Testimony
    76 questions
    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Browser