Factors Affecting the Accuracy of Eyewitness Testimony

This section focuses on factors affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. Eyewitness testimony (EWT) is an important aspect of the criminal justice system, as it can be influential in determining the outcome of a trial. However, it is not always reliable, and various factors can affect the accuracy of an eyewitness’s recall. These factors include misleading information, such as leading questions and post-event discussion, and anxiety experienced during the event. Below are the key concepts and research findings for each factor:

Misleading Information

Misleading information refers to incorrect or suggestive information that can distort an eyewitness's memory of an event. This can occur before, during, or after an event, and it can affect the accuracy of the testimony. Two significant ways misleading information can affect memory are through leading questions and post-event discussion.

Leading Questions

A leading question is one that suggests or prompts a particular answer. These questions can lead witnesses to recall information inaccurately, often shaping their memory of the event. Leading questions often contain assumptions or cues that influence how the witness responds.

Research:

Loftus and Palmer (1974): Conducted an experiment to investigate how leading questions could affect memory. Participants watched a video of a car crash and were then asked how fast the cars were going when they "smashed," "collided," or "bumped." The verb used in the question influenced participants' speed estimates. Those who heard "smashed" gave higher speed estimates than those who heard "bumped." This demonstrates how the wording of a question can distort a person’s memory of an event.

Conclusion: Leading questions can cause participants to reconstruct their memory based on the suggestion in the question, leading to inaccurate or altered recall.

Post-Event Discussion

Post-event discussion occurs when witnesses to the same event discuss it with others, which can affect their memory. Information shared in the discussion can be incorporated into individual memories, leading to conformity or distortion.

Research:

Gabbert et al. (2003): Conducted a study where participants watched a video of a crime from different perspectives. Afterward, they were allowed to discuss what they had seen. Many participants reported details they had not actually seen, suggesting that post-event discussion led to memory contamination. This phenomenon is known as memory conformity, where witnesses adopt others' memories as their own.

Conclusion: Post-event discussion can lead to the incorporation of incorrect details, distorting eyewitness testimony. This shows the importance of avoiding conversations between witnesses after an event.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a common emotional response to witnessing a traumatic or stressful event, and it can affect how accurately an individual recalls details of the event. The relationship between anxiety and memory is complex, with some studies suggesting that anxiety can impair memory, while others suggest it may enhance it.

The Yerkes-Dodson Law

The Yerkes-Dodson Law suggests that there is an optimal level of anxiety or arousal for peak performance, and this relationship follows an inverted U-shape. According to this model:

Low anxiety can lead to poor recall (lack of attention).

Moderate anxiety can enhance recall (increased focus).

High anxiety can impair recall (overwhelming stress, leading to confusion or distraction).

Research into Anxiety and Memory

Loftus (1979): Conducted a study where participants overheard an argument in a laboratory setting. In one condition, a man emerged from the argument holding a pen (low anxiety), and in the other condition, the man was holding a knife (high anxiety). Participants were later shown photographs and asked to identify the man. Those who had witnessed the man with the knife were less accurate in identifying him, suggesting that high anxiety can impair memory accuracy.

Weapon Focus Effect: This term refers to the phenomenon where the presence of a weapon (which typically elicits high anxiety) distracts witnesses, leading to poorer recall of other details. The weapon becomes the focus of attention, reducing the accuracy of memory for the surroundings or other details.

Christianson and Hubinette (1993): Conducted a study involving real witnesses to bank robberies and found that those who experienced high levels of anxiety during the robbery had better recall of central details (e.g. the robber’s appearance) but poorer recall of peripheral details (e.g. the location). This supports the idea that anxiety affects different aspects of memory.

Conclusion: While moderate anxiety may improve recall of key details, high anxiety can disrupt memory and reduce the accuracy of eyewitness testimony, particularly for peripheral details.

Summary

In conclusion, several factors can significantly affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony:

Misleading information, such as leading questions and post-event discussion, can distort a witness’s memory. Leading questions suggest false details, while post-event discussion can lead to memory contamination through conformity.

Anxiety can have a dual effect on memory: moderate anxiety can enhance recall, but high anxiety tends to impair memory accuracy, especially for peripheral details. The weapon focus effect is an example of how high anxiety can reduce the accuracy of a witness’s recall.

Understanding these factors is crucial for evaluating eyewitness testimony, as they highlight the potential for inaccuracies in the judicial process. Therefore, caution is needed when relying on eyewitness accounts, particularly in cases where misleading information or high anxiety may have been present.