EWT: Anxiety

Question 1

What effect does anxiety have on recall?

Answer 1

Both positive and negative

Question 2

What model explains the contradictory findings of anxiety?

Explain the model.

Answer 2

• Yerkes and Dodson’s “Inverted U”

- To high or low levels of anxiety produce low memory recall, but medium anxiety produces high levels of memory recall

Question 3

Who tested negative effects of anxiety on memory?

What did they find?

Answer 3

• Johnson and Scott
• 49% of participants in low-anxiety condition were able to identify the man
• High anxiety condition (with weapon) participants recall 33%​

Question 4

What theory did Johnson and Scott come up with after their study?

What does it argue?

Answer 4

• Tunnel theory of memory

- Argues that a witness’ attention is on the weapon (Weapon Focus), because it is a source of anxiety.

Question 5

Who tested positive effects of anxiety on memory?

What did they find?

Answer 5

• Yuille and Cutshall
• Eye-witnesses were questioned after a real shooting in Vancouver
• Witnesses who were very stressed were most accurate

Question 6

Strength of research into anxiety effects

Answer 6

• Real-life application (Yuille & Cutshall)

Question 7

Weaknesses of research into anxiety effects

Answer 7

• Johnson and Scott’s study tests surprise not anxiety​
• Field study (Yuille & Cutshall) lack control of variables​ (low internal validity)
• Ethical issues involved in researching anxiety​
• Yerkes-Dodson Law is limited and too simplistic​ (reductionist)
• Demand characteristics in studies