Podcast Summary
Anxiety's Complex Effect on Eyewitness Testimony: Anxiety can negatively impact identification in lab settings but may enhance recall in real-world situations. The Yerkes-Dodson inverted U theory explains these contrasting findings, emphasizing the importance of considering context and type of anxiety when assessing its impact on eyewitness testimony.
The impact of anxiety on eyewitness testimony is complex and can go both ways. Johnson and Scott's 1976 study showed that anxiety negatively affects identification in a controlled lab setting, leading to fewer correct identifications. However, Yule and Cutshall's 1986 study found that anxiety may enhance recall in real-world situations, making witnesses more accurate, especially when they feel highly stressed. The Yerkes-Dodson inverted U theory explains these contradictory findings, suggesting that there's an optimal level of arousal for peak performance, and both anxiety and stress can push us beyond or below that optimal level. Deffenbacher's 1983 review of 21 studies further supports this idea, highlighting the need to consider the specific context and type of anxiety when evaluating its effect on eyewitness testimony.
Anxiety's complex relationship with recall: Both high and low levels of anxiety can affect recall differently, with unusual situations playing a role, but other factors also impact recall accuracy.
Both high and low levels of anxiety can negatively impact recall, but optimum levels can lead to good recall. However, the effect of anxiety on recall may not be directly related to the presence of a weapon or threat. Instead, the unusualness of a situation seems to play a role in affecting recall. For instance, participants in a study by Johnson and Scott were more focused on the unexpected weapon than the anxiety it might have caused. Supporting evidence suggests that anxiety can negatively impact immediate eyewitness recall, as shown in a study by Valentine and Missus (2009), where high anxiety participants were less accurate than low anxiety in describing and identifying a target person. On the other hand, a study by Christiansen and Huberneti found that direct victims of a crime, who were the most anxious, had even more accurate recall than bystanders. However, it's important to note that the accuracy of recall can also be influenced by factors outside of anxiety, such as post-event discussions and other confounding variables, as suggested in the study by Kristiansen and Hubernetes. In conclusion, while anxiety can impact recall, the relationship between anxiety and recall is complex and influenced by various factors. Further research is needed to fully understand this relationship.
