Deffenbacher anxiety has a negative effect on accuracy
Loftus et al used 2 conditions, one with a weapon and one without. in both conditions participants heard a low key discussion. In condition 1 a man emerged holding a pen with grease on his hands. In two a man emerged with a knife covered in blood. when asked to identify the man from 50 photos participants in condition 1 were 49% accurate. Condition 2 was 33%accurate. anxiety decreases accuracy of recall as the presence of a weapon causes attention to be physically drawn towards the weapon and away from other things such as the perpetrators face.
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