Greasy pen and bloody knife in a waiting room after an argument experiment.
The findings supported the weapon focus effect.
Loftus et al. (1987) showed that anxiety does focus attention on the central features of a crime.
1 of 6
Anxiety has a positive effect on accuracy
Evolutionary argument supports it (Lion survival).
Christianson and Hubinette (1993) Sweden bank robbers.
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Resolving the contradiction
Kenneth Deffenbacher (1982)
Yerkes-Dodson effect: Arousal and performance.
N-shaped graph.
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E: Weapon focus may not be cause by anxiety
Pickel (1998) proposed the reduced accuracy of identification may be because of surprise rather than anxiety.
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E: Real life versus lab studies
Christianson and Hubinette (1995) was a study of anxiety in the context of a real life crime.
However, lab studies are supported by evidence, even though they contradict this.
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No simple conclusion
Critics of the weapon focus effect have suggested the violence of a crime may affect the accuracy of recall.
Christianson and Hubinette (1995) found that violence had a positive effect.
Shows there is no simple conclusion.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Evolutionary argument supports it (Lion survival).
Christianson and Hubinette (1993) Sweden bank robbers.
Back
Anxiety has a positive effect on accuracy
Card 3
Front
Kenneth Deffenbacher (1982)
Yerkes-Dodson effect: Arousal and performance.
N-shaped graph.
Back
Card 4
Front
Pickel (1998) proposed the reduced accuracy of identification may be because of surprise rather than anxiety.
Back
Card 5
Front
Christianson and Hubinette (1995) was a study of anxiety in the context of a real life crime.
However, lab studies are supported by evidence, even though they contradict this.
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