Anxiety

Question 1

Strength: RTS negative effect of anxiety

Answer 1

Valentine and Mesout, objective measure used (heart rate), divided ppts into high and low anxiety groups, ppts took part in London dungeon labyrinth, asked immediately to recall physical details of actor, high anxiety lowered accuracy of EWT, high levels of anxiety does have a negative effect on immediate eye witness recall

Question 2

Weakness: RTC Scott’s research

Answer 2

CHRISTIANSON AND HUBINETTE, interviewed 58 real life witnesses of a bank robbery, bank teller was high anxiety, customers low anxiety, recall more than 75% accurate across all witnesses, those directly threatened had more accurate accounts, contradicts current research that anxiety has a negative effect on EWT, we’re able to focus on key aspects of the event and perpetrator was caught

Question 3

Weakness: limitation of research

Answer 3

Not truly measuring anxiety, focused on weapon as surprised by what they saw, PICKEL, conducted an experiment, scissors, handgun a wallet and raw chicken as handheld items in a hair dressing video, EWT accuracy significantly lower in the high unusualness conditions, suggests weapon focus is due to surprise rather than anxiety, does not explain effect of anxiety on EWT