Eyewitness Testimony Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is an eyewitness?
An eyewitness is someone who has seen or witnessed a crime/event, usually present at the time of the incident.
How do eyewitnesses use their memory in testimony?
They use their memory of the crime to give their testimony as a ‘reconstruction’ of what happened.
Testimony: a statement that serves as evidence or proof of something.
What is reconstructive memory?
Reconstructive memory is the idea that memory is not an accurate recording of events. It is reconstructed in recalling and may produce errors.
Define Eyewitness Testimony (EWT).
EWT is the ability of the person who saw the crime to remember the details of the events they have observed.
What factors can affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony?
Accuracy can be affected by misleading information and anxiety.
What is misleading information?
Misleading information is incorrect info given to eyewitnesses after the event which affects the accuracy of their testimony.
In what forms can misleading information occur?
It can occur as leading questions and post event discussion between co-witnesses or other people.
What are leading questions?
Leading questions are questions that imply a particular answer, which can influence how a memory is recalled.
What is post event discussion?
Post event discussion is when the recalling of events by one witness alters the accuracy of recall by another witness.
What is memory conformity?
Memory conformity is when witnesses go along with others for social approval, leading to their memories becoming similar.
What is memory contamination?
Memory contamination occurs when witnesses discuss details with each other after an event, causing their memories to become altered or distorted as they combine information from other witnesses with their own memories.
