PSYC1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 34: Suggestibility, Eyewitness Memory, Recognition Memory
2 Jul 2018
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28/05/2018 Eyewitness Memory
Eyewitness memory is assessed in 2 ways:
oRecall memory: reporting details of previously witnessed event/person (open ended
questions)
oRecognition memory: reporting whether what is currently being viewed/heard is the
same as the previously witnessed person/event of interest (more like multiple-
choice)
2 types of factors that can affect eyewitness memory
oEstimator variables: variables that are present at the time of the crime and cannot
be changed (e.g. crime took place at night, therefore witness might not be able to
report much; witness is a child who does not have verbal abilities to describe what
had happened)
oSystem variables: variables that can be manipulated after the fact and impact the
accuracy of witnesses (e.g. questioning techniques used for witnesses)
Estimator variables (what influences persons perception): exposure time, lighting, distance,
physical disguise, distraction, alcohol/drugs
oExpectations affect perception: we construct our memories partly on what we
perceived at the time and partly on our expectations, beliefs, and current knowledge
oOwn race bias: tendency for people to have difficulty identifying people another
race, likely due to a lack of interracial contact
oEmotional level: memory best at optimum level of arousal (Yerkes-Dodson law);
Easterbrook hypothesis – highly aroused witnesses have better memory for central
details than peripheral details; weapons focus effect – presence of a weapon draws
attention and impairs a witness’ ability to identify a culprit
oStress level: flashbulb memories (strong memories we feel we have, like a
photograph but forgetting still does occur for these events)
Eyewitnesses who can describe trivial details of a crime scene are often less able to correctly
identify the perpetrator – that is, those who pay attention to details are less likely to apy
attention to the culprit’s face (Wells and Leippe, 1981)
System variables
oDelay between witnessing an event and giving a statement can affect memory –
memory decays rapidly at first and then steadies out, try to interview witnesses as
soon as possible
oQuestioning techniques used by the police can affect eyewitness accuracy;
misinformation effect – exposure to incorrect information about an event after it
has occurred often causes people to incorporate this misinformation into their
memories
Misinformation effect study: McMartin Preschool – 7 teachers accused of sexually assaulting
children – charges were dropped once judge saw the interview tapes – they were leading
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Misinformation effect study: mcmartin preschool 7 teachers accused of sexually assaulting children charges were dropped once judge saw the interview tapes they were leading. Eyewitness memory questions for the children, children didn"t say anything, just agreed with what the interviewer was saying. Loftus believes that therapists sometimes implant false memories of sexual abuse in their patients; others believe that the memories are for actual events, but they were repressed and later recovered. Reasons for increase in reported cases: may women who were abused don"t have memories, and some never get any. This doesn"t mean that they weren"t abused, and if you think you were abused, and your life shows the symptoms, then you were (the courage to heal by bass and davis, 1988: celebrities at that time were also coming out reporting repressed memories of childhood abuse. Factors increasing susceptibility to misinformation effect: age, hypnosis, suggestibility, credible source of misinformation, repetition of misinformation, misinformation is peripheral.
