Memory: Factors affecting eyewitness testimony- anxiety

Question 1

What were the 2 conditions of Johnson & Scott’s study?

Answer 1

Condition 1- participants were put in a situation that gives them LOW ANXIETY (heard a normal conversation, man walks past with grease on his hands)
Condition 2- participants were put in a situation that gives them HIGH ANXIETY (heard argument, breaking glass and saw man carrying knife with blood)

Question 2

Findings of Johnson & Scott’s study

Answer 2

There were more participants THAT IDENTIFIED the man with pen (low anxiety) rather than with knife (high anxiety)

Question 3

How does anxiety have a positive effect?

Answer 3

There is fight or flight response which increased alertness

Question 4

What was Yuille & Cutshall’s study about?

Answer 4

• They studied a shooting where there were 13 eyewitnesses.
• They interviewed 4-5 months after the original interview

Question 5

What was accuracy determined by in the no. of details the eyewitnesses say in the interview?

Answer 5

• The stress levels experienced at that time

Question 6

FIndings of Yuille & Cutshall’s study

Answer 6

More stressed group had more accurate recall