The effects of anxiety on the accuracy of EWT

Question 1

What is meant by ‘weapon focus’?

Answer 1

If there is a weapon present then individuals may pay more attention to the weapon than peripheral details, such as the appearance of the perpetrator.
The presence of a weapon might also significantly increase levels of anxiety experienced.

Question 2

How can ‘weapon focus’ affect the accuracy of EWT?

Answer 2

The presence of a weapon is thought to negatively affect an eyewitness’ ability to recall details about the culprit, as it diverts their attention away from important aspects of the situation and narrows their focus of attention to the weapon.

Question 3

Johnson and Scott (1976): Laboratory study; independent groups design
Procedure

Answer 3

Procedure: Participants sat in waiting room and overheard either a…
a) Low key discussion in lab about equipment failure, a man then emerged holding a pen with greased hands (LOW anxiety condition).
b) Hostile exchange, sound of breaking glass and crashing chairs; a man then emerged holding bloodied paperknife (HIGH anxiety condition).
Ppts were then presented with 50 photographs and asked to identify the man.

Question 4

Johnson and Scott (1976): Laboratory study; independent groups design
Findings

Answer 4

Findings: Ppts were less accurate in identifying a man who had been seen earlier holding a bloodied paperknife (33%) compared with those who had seen the same man holding a pen (49%).

Question 5

Johnson and Scott (1976): Laboratory study; independent groups design
Conclusions

Answer 5

Conclusion: The weapon (paperknife) – as well as the high levels of anxiety experienced - may have distracted the ppts attention away from the appearance of the person holding it.

Question 6

Loftus and Burns (1982
Procedure

Answer 6

Participants were allocated to one of two conditions:1. Watched a violent short film where a boy was shot in the faceor2. Watched a non-violent short film of a crime

Question 7

Loftus and Burns (1982
Findings

Answer 7

Findings: Participants were less accurate in recall when they saw the violent short film than those who watched the non-violent movie.

Question 8

Who does Loftus and Burns (1982 support

Answer 8

This demonstrates support for Johnson and Scott (1976) as it shows that when people witness anxiety-provoking situations, they are less likely to recall the event or the perpetrator accurately.

Question 9

Yuille and Cutshall (1986)
Procedure

Answer 9

Interviewed 13 eyewitnesses to a real-life shooting involving the owner of the shop and armed thief.
The storeowner was wounded; the thief was shot dead.

Question 10

Yuille and Cutshall (1986)
Key Findings

Answer 10

Accurate accounts were given five months later – what does this suggest?
Those in closer proximity gave more accurate accounts.
Interestingly, misleading questions had no effect on accuracy of recall

This research suggests that high levels of anxiety increase accuracy of EWT.

Question 11

Christianson and Hubinette (1993) - Anxiety in the real world

Answer 11

Questioned 110 witnesses to 22 real bank robbery.
They found that those who had been threatened in some way (bank tellers) were more accurate and detailed in their recall than those who had been onlookers and less emotionally aroused.
This suggests that emotional arousal improves memory recall.

Question 12

Foster (1994) - Investigated consequentiality

Answer 12

Identification of the robber was more accurate for the group who thought they were witnessing a real event and told that their responses would influence the trial.
This suggests that the consequence of identifying someone is an important factor with respect to accuracy of recall.

Question 13

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Answer 13

This model suggests that moderate levels of anxiety (emotional arousal) promote more accurate recall.

Question 14

Deffenbacher (1983)

Answer 14

performed a meta-analysis of 21 studies examining the role of anxiety in EWT.

Conclusions: Heightened anxiety tended to negatively affect memory for an event witnessed.
Deffenbacher concluded from their research that anxiety diverts attention away from the important features of a situation.

Question 15

What is a meta-analysis?

Answer 15

A large number of studies – involving the same research question and methods – are reviewed together, by combining the data and applying a statistical test to assess the effect size.

Question 16

Laboratory studies, such as Loftus’, have high control. Why is this a strength?

Answer 16

Laboratory studies, such as Loftus’, have high control.

Studies conducted on real-life witnesses have high ecological validity.

Inconsistent research findings:
Laboratory studies (e.g. Johnson & Scott, 1976) suggest that anxiety decreases accuracy of recall as they found…

However, research involving real-life witnesses e.g. Yuille & Cutshall, suggest anxiety improves accuracy of recall as they found…

Question 17

Pickel (1998) –Anxiety vs. Surprise

Answer 17

:(The weapon focus effect might not be caused by anxiety…
Research conducted by Pickel (1998) suggested that the presence of a weapon causes surprise and it is this which affects accuracy of recall as opposed to anxiety caused by the perception of a threat.

Question 18

:(Ethical issues with research into EWT

Answer 18

Are participants always fully informed about the true nature of the research?
Are they caused stress that is greater than they might experience in everyday life (psychological harm)?

Question 19

:(What individual differences might exist that could influence accuracy of EWT

Answer 19

What individual differences might exist that could influence accuracy of EWT?
Age:
OWN-AGE BIAS – Participants may have superior memory recall for faces of those in their own age group. Individuals usually encounter members of their own age group more regularly, therefore they become more expert at processing those faces.
Very young children are more suggestible than other age groups.
Children are more heavily influenced by leading and misleading questions than adults.