Memory: Factors affecting eyewitness testimony- anxiety AO1 Flashcards
What were the 2 conditions of Johnson & Scott’s study?
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)
Findings of Johnson & Scott’s study
There were more participants (49%) in the LOW ANXIETY CONDITION THAT IDENTIFIED the man with pen compared to the participants in HIGH ANXIETY CONDITION that had to identify the man with knife.
How does anxiety have a positive effect?
There is fight or flight response which increased alertness
What was Yuille & Cutshall’s study about?
- They studied a shooting where there were 13 eyewitnesses.
- They interviewed 4-5 months after the original interview
What was accuracy determined by in the no. of details the eyewitnesses say in the interview?
- The stress levels experienced at that time and emotional problems since the crime.
FIndings of Yuille & Cutshall’s study
More stressed group had more accurate recall
Anxiety is a?
Physiological arousal
What does anxiety cause?
Not paying attention to the important cues.
POSITIVE EFFECT
What percentage was less stressed group accurate?
75%
POSITIVE EFFECT
What percentage of more stressed group was accurate?
88%
What did Yuille & Cutshall conclude from their study?
Anxiety does not have a detrimental effect on recall in real world context.
JOHNSON & SCOTT (METHOD)
What kind of study did they conduct and what were the set-up of the participants?
- lab study
- participants sat in a waiting room
Who was/were the researcher/s for negative effects of anxiety?
Johnson & Scott
Who was/were the researcher/s for positive effects on anxiety?
Yuille & Cutshall
