Factors affecting EWT

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what is the misinformation effect?
this effect is where incorrect information that someone receives after an event can be incorperated into their memory for that event
-this is done by using leading questions to direct someones response a certain way
-makes EWT unreliable
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what is the weapon focus effect?
where a witness focuses their attention on the weapon being used in the crime
-this causes a state of anxiety which leads to difficulties in recalling other details accurately
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what is weapon focus an example of
an occasion when anxiety is pushed over the edge as the brain's natural tendency is to focus in on the weapon as the main source of stress
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what does this make EWT?
not very valid as other important details like appearance of criminal are not noticed or distorted
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what can weapon focus be explained by?
tunnel theory- presence of a weapon leads to selective attention, this excludes or ignores competing bits of into
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what did Pickel find 1990?
poor EWT when witnesses were surprised by the unusualness rather than scared by the weapon
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what does the influence of anxiety have on EWT?
may affect a person's ability to register and recall the event.
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what did Dettenbacher 1983 conclude?
he reviewed 21 studies and found moderate anxiety helps memory.
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what is the Yerkes - Dodson law?
if an EW's anxiety continues to rise (and becomes extreme) this create a decline in recall
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what is post-event information?
information arriving after an vent that may affect an EW's memory of what happened
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what did Bartlett state?
human memory is reconstructive
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what does reconstructive memory mean?
-memory does not record events in a exact detail
-it fits memories with pre-existing frameworks or expectations and past knowledge (schemas)
-a persons recall on crime may be more based on their schema of the event not what actually happened
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what is does a leading question do?
-suggests a particular answer because of the way it is phrased and may point an EW towards a specific answer
-witness may incorrectly assess the information provided in the first question rather than actually remember
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Card 2

Front

what is the weapon focus effect?

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where a witness focuses their attention on the weapon being used in the crime
-this causes a state of anxiety which leads to difficulties in recalling other details accurately

Card 3

Front

what is weapon focus an example of

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

what does this make EWT?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

what can weapon focus be explained by?

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Preview of the front of card 5
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