Cognitive Debate: Are EWT reliable?

Question 1

Crimes Are Emotive Experiences

Answer 1

FOR:
Cahill - Found evidence hormones e.g. adrenaline enhance memory

Shocking experiences hold personal significance so remember

*Trial before jury = £17,000, so need to ensure reliable

AGAINST:
Freud - Distressing crime = Repression protects + puts memory into unconscious

*However, Freud dream analysis research unreliable as unscientific

Question 2

Factors Affecting EWT

Answer 2

FOR:
Innocence Project - EWT reliable if rate confidence in EWT then cross examine with others’ EWT

*69% wrongful convictions due to EWT, so does this procedure actually work?

AGAINST:
Wells et al - EWT prone to external factors affecting reliability e.g. influence of lineup administrator. Can give false confidence

*However, if too sceptical dangerous for society

Question 3

Post Event Information

Answer 3

FOR:
Loftus - P’s remember purse was red in video of man stealing purse even though told it was brown

AGAINST:
Loftus + Palmer - Leading questions + smashed glass classic research

*Reliable research as lab study + repeated measures