anxiety affecting EWT

Question 1

Why is anxiety a factor

Answer 1

Tends to cause high levels of anxiety which in turn causes memories to distort

Question 2

What does the inverted u show

Answer 2

High and low levels of arousal have a negative affect on accuracy
When anxiety is low attention is low
When anxiety is high sensory shut down due to sensory overload
Moderate levels of anxiety can be beneficial as adrenaline can sharpen our senses and create clearer memories

Question 3

Negative effects of anxiety on EWT

Answer 3

Impaired memory recall
Weapon efffect
Distorted perception
Increase susceptibility to misleading information

Question 4

Positive effect of anxiety on EWT

Answer 4

Increased alertness
Can be at optimal arousal and therefore optimum accuracy

Question 5

What is weapon focus

Answer 5

A witness uses selective attention to focus on the weapon rather than on the criminal or other details of the crime

Question 6

What is the weapon effect experiment

Answer 6

Pps outside a lab heard an exchange between 2 people
Condition A a man left with greasy hands and holding a pen
Condition B a man left with blood on his hands holding a knife
Later the were asked to identify the man holding the weapon

Question 7

What was the weapon experiment findings

Answer 7

Pen condition were more accurate in recognising the man by 16%
Shows that
Anxiety caused by the weapon narrowed the focus of attention which reduces the amount of information and detail beyond the weapon any further memories of the crime will be weak and therefore reduce the accuracy of the EWT