Factors Influencing EWT Flashcards
State 3 factors affecting EWT
Post event information
Weapon focus
Stress and arousal
Define EWT
EWT refers to the recalled memory of a witness to a crime or incident. This is recorded in a police statement or given as a verbal testimony to be used in a court of law.
Describe how post event information affects EWT
Post event information is information encountered after an event has occurred, e.g. Media, other witnesses, lawyers and the police.
Eyewitnesses are often interviewed over a period of time before a case may go to trial. In this interim period a witness may not always give accurate information as other information can confabulate the information that has already been encoded.
The reconstructive memory theory suggests that memory is not like a tape recording that cannot be altered. It argues that we use schemes to guide our memories. Post event information can be incorporated into a memory, which then becomes reconstructed.
Describe how weapon focus affects EWT
Weapon focus refers to an eyewitness’s concentration on a weapon to the exclusion of other details about a crime.
One reason a weapon can lower eyewitness accuracy is because it creates a heightened stress arousal which assists the eyewitness in recalling information about the weapon, but to the detriment of other details within the situation.
A second reason is because the witness focuses their attention on the weapon which is threatening and unusual. This other details about the incident are not encoded/paid so much attention to.
Describe how stress and arousal affects EWT
Eyewitnesses are placed under a great deal of stress/emotional strain when witnessing an incident.
Research shows that our ability to recall accurately is impaired when we get too aroused/stressed.
Heroes-Dodson law suggests that there is an optimum level of arousal that helps recall but if we become to stressed or too relaxed about an event recall accuracy declines.
