Accuracy of Eyewitness testimony: Anxiety

Question 1

State how anxiety has a negative effect on accuracy

Answer 1

• Stress & anxiety has a effect on memory & performance

Question 2

What isn’t affected due to stress/anxiety

Answer 2

Automatic skills

Question 3

State the case study involved in Accuracy of EWT: Anxiety.

Answer 3

Johnson & Scott (1976)

- Weapon focus effect

Question 4

State the procedure of the case study in Accuracy of EWT: Anxiety.

Answer 4

• Asked participants to sit in waiting room
• Heard an argument in adjoining room
• Saw a man carry bloody knife/greasy pen
• Participants asked to identify the man from a set of photographs

Question 5

State the findings of the case study in Accuracy of EWT: Anxiety

Answer 5

• Supported idea of weapon focus effect

- Mean accuracy = 49% identifying the man

Question 6

State what the weapon focus effect is.

Answer 6

• When a weapon in a criminal hands distracts attention

- Reduces the accuracy of identification

Question 7

State the alternative argument of anxiety.

Answer 7

• Anxiety may have a positive effect on accuracy due to evolutionary factors
• Anxiety creates more enduring & accurate memories

Question 8

State the positive effects of anxiety.

Answer 8

• Adaptive to remember emotional events

- Aids identifying dangerous situations in future & recalls better

Question 9

State an example of a case study in the positive effects of anxiety.

Answer 9

Christianson & Hubinette

• Questioned 58 witness to bank robberies in Sweden
• Witnesses either victims/bystanders
• Conducted 4-5 months after robberies

Question 10

State the findings in the case study in the positive effects of anxiety.

Answer 10

• Witnesses showed good memories of robbery

- Most anxious victims = Best recalls