EWT in real life happens after a violent event which often causes high anxiety
researchers have suggested that anxiety can have both a negative and positive effect on recall
Why may anxiety have a negative effect on recall?
causes weapon focus
this decreases the focus on important details such as the criminals face
weapons cause anxiety so the witness is distracted
Outline research into the negative affects of anxiety on EWT
Johnson and Scott
low anxiety condition: participants were in a room overhearing a normal conversation and a man walks out with greasy hands (49 % identified the man from 50 photos)
high anxiety condition: participants overheard a heated argument and man walked out with a knife covered in blood (33 % identified the man)
