Chapter 14 Flashcards
Blocking Theory
A memory theory suggesting that competing memories can interfere with the recall of a target memory.
Cognitive Interview
A method of interviewing witnesses or victims to improve the accuracy of memory recall.
Counterfactual Thinking
Thinking about alternatives to past events, imagining how things could have turned out differently.
Cue Utilization
The process of using cues to help recall memories or recognize information.
Easterbrook Hypothesis
The idea that heightened emotional arousal narrows attention, leading to better recall of central details but poorer recall of peripheral details.
Memory Replacement Theory
A theory suggesting that new memories can replace or distort old ones, especially in the context of misleading information.
Misleading Post-Event Information
Information introduced after an event that can alter or distort memory of the original event.
Eyewitness Testimony
A legal term referring to the account of an event provided by someone who witnessed it firsthand.
Post-Identification Feedback
Feedback given to a witness after making an identification, which can influence their confidence and memory.
Relative Judgment Principle
The idea that eyewitnesses may choose the person who most closely resembles the perpetrator in a lineup, even if they are not the actual culprit.
Sequential Lineup
A lineup in which witnesses view one suspect at a time, rather than all at once.
Simultaneous Lineup
A lineup in which witnesses view all suspects at once and must identify the perpetrator from the group.
Source Monitoring Theory
A theory about how individuals track the origins of their memories and distinguish between different sources of information.
Unconscious Transference
A memory error where a person incorrectly attributes a familiar face or detail to an event in which they were not involved.
Weapon Focus Effect
The tendency for eyewitnesses to focus more on a weapon than on the person wielding it, which can impair memory of other details.
Yerkes-Dodson Law
A psychological principle suggesting that moderate levels of arousal lead to optimal performance, while both low and high levels impair performance.
