Evaluation: Accuracy of EWT - Anxiety

Question 1

State the 1st evaluation point of Accuracy of EWT: Anxiety.

Answer 1

• Pickel suggested reduced accuracy is due to surprise rather than anxiety
• Procedure:
  > Participant watched thief enter a barbers
  > Thief carried: Scissors, wallet, gun or raw chicken

Findings:

• Identification was least accurate in high surprise condition (raw chicken)
• Suggests weapon focus effect is related to surprise rather than anxiety

Question 2

State the 2nd evaluation point of Accuracy of EWT: Anxiety.

Answer 2

No simple conclusion

• Critics suggest weapon focus effect suggested violence of crime affects accuracy of recall
• Other studies did not involve violence
• Discovered victims of violent crimes were more accurate in recall than victims of non-violent
• Suggests there is no rule about effects of anxiety on accuracy of EWT

Question 3

State the 3rd evaluation point of Accuracy of EWT: Anxiety.

Answer 3

Individual differences
- Emotional sensitivity

• Bothwell et al
• People labelled
  > Neurotic - Accuracy decreases as stress increases
  > Stable - Accuracy increased as stress increased
• Suggests indivudal differences play on important role in accuracy of EWT.