anxiety and EWT

Question 1

Johnson and Scott: low anxiety condition

Answer 1

the weapon focus effect
- led pts to believe they were going to take part in a lab study
- while seated in a waiting room pts heard an argument in the next room
- the the low anxiety condition a man then walked through the waiting area carrying a pen with grease on his hands

Question 2

Johnson and Scott: high anxiety condition

Answer 2

• overheard the same heated argument, but this time it was accompanied by the sound of breaking glass
• in this scenario a man walked through the waiting area holding a paper knife covered in blood

Question 2

Johnson and Scott: results

Answer 2

pts had to pick the man out of 50 photographs
- 49% of those in low anxiety condition could pick out the man
- 33% of those in the high anxiety condition could pick out the man

Question 3

Christianson & Hubinette

Answer 3

58 witnesses to bank robberies in Sweden
- witnesses were either victims or bystanders
- interviews were conducted 4-15 months after robberies

Question 3

Pikel: critcism of Johnson and Scott

Answer 3

• suggests the reason for the lower identification in the weapon scenario may be surprised over a weapon rather than scared, so focused on it for that reason
• he conducted an experiment using scissors, a handgun, a wallet or raw chicken in a video about hairdressers
• EWT was significnatly poorer in the high unusualness conditions suggesting weapon focus is due to unusalness not anxiety

Question 4

Christianson & Hubinette

Answer 4

• witnesses showed generally good memories for details of robbery itself (better than 75% accurate recall)
• witnesses who were most anxious had the best recall of all
• generally shows that anxiety does not negatively affect accuracy of recall

Question 5

limitations of studies in anxiety and EWT: ethics

Answer 5

ethics:
- creating anxiety in pts very risky
- could cause psychological harm
- real life studies beneficial and no harm caused by researcher, this then questions the need for such research
- this research can be compared with less controlled field studies and can be seen if benefits of research may outweigh issues

Question 6

limitations of studies in anxiety and EWT: demand characteristics

Answer 6

• most lab studies show films of usually staged crime
• most pts aware of this, and most work out that will be asled to remember or asked about what they have seen
• hence may answer in accordance to what they expect to be the answer