Eyewitness Testimony

Eyewitness Testimony

1. INTRO

   • Most persuasive forms of evidence. HIGHLY UNRELIABLE source of information
     • HOWITT 2006
   • Represents a DOUBLE FAILURE of the crimnial justice system

2. EMOTION AND MEMORY

   • BROWN + KULIK 1977
     • Highly Detailed + Accurate
     • Created during SIGNIFICANT and UNEXPECTED events
       • NEEDS a high level of emotional arousal
       • NEEDS a level of surprise
   • CLIFFORD + SCOTT 1978
     • High levels DECREASE ACCURACY
     • Showed P's violent + nonviolent vides. Violence reduced accuracy of accounts
     • CRITICIZED. Doesnt produce a high enough level of emotion
   • LOFTUS + MESSO 1987
     • Showed P'S slides of a line. One holding a cheque the other a gun.
       • 56% less accurate decision + 35% less accuracy in line up. VIOLENCE
     • Context of real crimes = high levels of stress lead to LESS accuracy
     • Study didnt reflect this stress. People tend to focus on unusual objects

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