2.5.1.2 Post-Event Discussion

• What is source monitoring failure?

  Forgetting where memories originated
• What is the definition of Post-Event Discussion?

  It is when eyewitnesses talk after an event.
• How do post-event discussions affect eyewitness testimony accuracy?

  They significantly reduce accuracy
• What are mitigation strategies used for in eyewitness testimony?

  To improve the accuracy of eyewitness testimony
• What might happen if an eyewitness hears a friend insist on a detail they didn't see?

  They might start to believe they saw that detail
• What are the key mitigation strategies for eyewitness testimony?

  1. Separate Interviews
  2. Clear Instructions
  3. Cognitive Interview Techniques
  4. Delayed Discussions
• How can discussions after a crime affect eyewitness memory?

  They can distort memories in various ways
• What is memory contamination?

  Combining your memories with what others say
• What can amplify the Social Contagion Effect among witnesses?

  Confidence levels and perceived authority
• What psychological factors contribute to the Social Contagion Effect?

  Desire to fit in and perceived authority
• How does the Social Contagion Effect manifest among eyewitnesses?

  Through unintentional adoption of details
• What is the Social Contagion Effect?

  Adopting details from others' narratives
• What are the three ways memory distortion can occur?

  1. Memory contamination
  2. Memory conformity
  3. Source confusion
• What is a potential consequence of discussing an event with others after witnessing it?

  It can lead to inaccurate eyewitness testimony.
• Why should post-event discussions be delayed or discouraged?

  To prevent contamination of eyewitness memories
• What does memory conformity involve?

  Agreeing with others to fit in or be seen as reliable
• What might happen if one witness claims the mugger wore a blue coat?

  Others may "remember" the blue coat
• What did Gabbert et al. (2003) demonstrate about eyewitness discussions?

  71% recalled details they didn't see
• What can happen if an eyewitness incorporates false details into their memory?

  It can lead to inaccurate eyewitness testimony.
• Why might eyewitnesses incorporate false details into their memories?

  Due to the influence of others' narratives
• What is memory conformity in eyewitness testimony?

  Recalling things not actually seen after discussion
• If an eyewitness hears a detail from another person, what might happen to their memory?

  They might incorporate that detail into their recollection.
• How can cognitive interview techniques enhance eyewitness testimony?

  By reinstating context and recalling events differently
• What is the purpose of conducting separate interviews with eyewitnesses?

  To prevent memory contamination and conformity
• If an eyewitness believes they saw a detail after discussing it with someone else, what process might this illustrate?

  Memory distortion through source confusion
• What are the three mechanisms through which memory conformity occurs?

  1. Memory contamination: Mixing information from others' accounts
  2. Social influence: Accepting confident versions from others
  3. Source monitoring failure: Forgetting memory origins
• What is source confusion?

  Forgetting if you actually saw something
• What should eyewitnesses be instructed to do during interviews?

  Recall only what they personally witnessed
• How does social influence affect eyewitness accuracy?

  People accept others' versions when they sound confident
• How can Post-Event Discussion affect eyewitness memory?

  It can lead to inaccuracies in their memories.
• What is the term for when eyewitnesses' memories are altered after a crime?

  Memory distortion
• What does the study by Gabbert et al. (2003) highlight regarding eyewitness testimony?

  The importance of mitigation techniques
• What is memory contamination in the context of eyewitness testimony?

  Mixing information from others' accounts
• How can discussing an event with a friend lead to memory distortion?

  It can introduce false details into the memory
• What percentage of eyewitnesses recall things they didn't see according to Gabbert et al. (2003)?

  71%
• What can the Social Contagion Effect lead to in terms of testimonies?

  Inaccurate testimonies with false details