Eyewitness Testimony and Its Accuracy

Introduction

Eyewitnesses are often trusted to give evidence in court, but the accuracy of this testimony can vary.
Key factors affecting accuracy: misleading information, post-event discussion, and anxiety.
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Bartlett's Theory:
- Memories are not snapshots of the past but are reconstructive.
- Schemas: packages of information that help understand the world, impacting memory reconstruction.
- False memories (confabulations) can occur due to reconstructive nature of memory.
Influence of Leading Questions:
- Words used in questions can imply certain responses, influencing memory (e.g., "smashed" vs. "hit").
- Two possibilities:
  - Substitution Bias: The memory changes, replacing original memory.
  - Response Bias: Emotional pressure alters the response, not the memory.

Defined as the contamination of eyewitness testimony with another witness’s memory.
Memory Conformity: Testimony aligns with other witnesses’ accounts.
Research Example:
- Gabbert's study showed that witnesses who discussed what they saw included details not present in their original viewpoint.

Definition: A mental state of arousal with potential biological factors like increased heart rate.
Impacts on Recall:
- Anxiety can either decrease recall (distraction) or increase recall (heightened alertness).
- Weapon Focus Effect: Attention drawn to weapon, reducing focus on other details.
Yerkes-Dodson Law of Arousal:
- Low anxiety = low recall, Moderate anxiety = improved recall, High anxiety = decreased recall.

Johnson and Scott's Study:
- Demonstrated weapon focus effect with different scenarios leading to varying recall accuracy.
- Participants were less accurate in identifying a suspect with a weapon.
Peters' Field Study: Similar effects observed with medical scenarios involving syringes.
Counter Evidence:
- Real-life study by Yuille and Cutshall found highly accurate recall even under stress.

Real-World Applications:
- Development of the cognitive interview to improve eyewitness accuracy.
Criticisms of Lab Studies:
- Low validity due to lack of real consequences.
- Demand characteristics might influence participant responses.
Ethical Considerations:
- Potentially unethical to induce stress or trauma in participants.

Eyewitness testimony can be influenced by misleading information, discussions, and anxiety.
Understanding these factors can help improve the accuracy and reliability of eyewitness accounts in legal settings.

Study Tips: Review examples of misleading questions and real case studies to understand how various factors affect eyewitness testimony.

Next Steps: Watch the upcoming video on improving the accuracy of eyewitness testimony.