Cognitive debate

Question 1

RELIABLE: EVENTS

Answer 1

• emotionally shocking events = accurate long lasting memory (flashbulb)
• adrenaline enhances memory
• emotion around crime = more reliable memories

Question 2

UNRELIABLE: EVENTS

Answer 2

• may not be reliable as traumatizing
• Freud - motivated forgetting = painful memories are forced into unconscious mind (repression)
• overall depends what type of crime + individual differences

Question 3

RELIABLE: AGE

Answer 3

• Davies - kids aged 6, 7, 10, 11 had accurate memories, didn’t lie, weren’t influenced
• Anastasi and Rhodes - all age groups most accurate when recognising offender their age

Question 4

UNRELIABLE: AGE

Answer 4

• kids prone to fantasy and effected by suggestions
• pozzulo and lindsay - kids under 5 less correct identifications when target present
• kids 5-13 make mistake in target absent (cant say no)

Question 5

RELIABLE: SCHEMAS

Answer 5

• Many victims know criminal so dont need schemas e.g. 90% rape victims know rapist
• cutshall - real life crimes = higher accuracy

Question 6

UNRELIABLE: SCHEMAS

Answer 6

• old schemas in memory may distort event e.g. what criminal looks like
• yarmey - 240 students look at 30 unknown men and classify good or bad = high agreement suggests similar schemas

Question 7

CONC

Answer 7

• hard to prove if reliable or unreliable (wrongful convictions)
• research has been helpful in leading to better critical of EWT