EWT: Anxiety

• What is the general finding regarding research in this area?

  Research is contradictory
• What study provided evidence for the negative effect of anxiety on EWT?

  • Johnson & Scott (1976)
  • Participants overheard discussions in two conditions:
  • Low-anxiety: discussion about equipment failure
  • High-anxiety: heated argument with breaking glass
• What were the two conditions participants were exposed to in Johnson & Scott's study?

  Low-anxiety and high-anxiety conditions
• What did participants in the low-anxiety condition see?

  A man with a pen and grease on hands
• What did participants in the high-anxiety condition see?

  A man with a knife and blood on hands
• What was the identification success rate in the low-anxiety condition?

  49% of participants correctly identified the man
• What was the identification success rate in the high-anxiety condition?

  33% of participants correctly identified the man
• What conclusion did Johnson & Scott reach regarding anxiety and EWT?

  Anxiety negatively affects accuracy of EWT
• What is the weapon focus effect suggested by Johnson & Scott?

  Eyewitness focuses on the weapon, not perpetrator
• What study provided evidence for the positive effect of anxiety on EWT?

  • Christianson & Hubinette (1993)
  • Questioned 58 witnesses of bank robberies
  • Witnesses were either victims (high-anxiety) or bystanders (low-anxiety)
• What was the time frame for interviews conducted by Christianson & Hubinette?

  4 to 15 months after the robberies
• What was the general recall performance of witnesses in Christianson & Hubinette's study?

  All witnesses showed good recall for details
• Who had the best recall in Christianson & Hubinette's study?

  The victims who were directly threatened
• What conclusion did Christianson & Hubinette reach regarding anxiety and EWT?

  Anxiety positively affects accuracy of EWT
• What does the Yerkes-Dodson Law propose?

  • Performance improves with anxiety to an optimal point
  • Performance declines with further increases in anxiety
  • Small to medium anxiety increases positively affect EWT
  • High anxiety negatively impacts EWT accuracy
• What did Deffenbacher suggest about studies finding positive effects of anxiety on EWT?

  They likely deal with lower anxiety levels
• What did Deffenbacher suggest about studies finding negative effects of anxiety on EWT?

  They likely deal with higher anxiety levels
• How do the findings of Johnson & Scott and Christianson & Hubinette differ regarding anxiety's effect on EWT?

  • Johnson & Scott: Anxiety negatively affects EWT accuracy
  • Christianson & Hubinette: Anxiety positively affects EWT accuracy
• What is a strength of research into Anxiety + EWT

  Strength = studies show ↑ levels of anxiety have positive effect on recall. E.g Yuille + Cutshall (1986) interviewed 13 witnesses present in a real shooting. Found accuracy increased 5 months after interviews took place, that witnesses avoided leading questions + there were little changes in testimonies. Supports idea that anxiety has positive influence on our ability to recall events.
• What is a weakness of research into Anxiety + EWT

  Weakness is that the weapons focus effect may X be caused by anxiety. E.g Pickel (1998) had pats observe thief enter hairdressing salon carrying 1 of 4 items: scissors (↑threat ↓surprise), handgun (↑threat ↑surprise), a wallet (↓low threat ↓surprise) and a raw chicken (↓threat ↑surprise). It was found that identification least accurate in ↑ surprise conditions rather than ↑ threat conditions. Suggests identification could be due to surprise X anxiety. 
• What is a weakness of research into Anxiety + EWT

  One weakness = field studies of effect of anxiety on the accuracy of EWT lack control. For example, time between crime + interviews - researchers have X control over. E.g eyewitnesses may have discussed event w other witnesses, been interviewed by police or seen accounts of crime in media. This could affect accuracy = ↓ internal validity.
• What is a weakness of research into Anxiety + EWT

  Weakness = been suggested that  key extraneous variable in studies of  effect of anxiety on  accuracy of EWT = personality. Bothwell et al. (1987) assessed pts for neuroticism, (where ppl tend to become anxious quickly). ts were tested + labeled as neurotic or stable. Found - stable pts showed rising levels of accuracy as stress levels increased, however opposite true for neurotic group. Accuracy levels ↓ as stress ↑. Suggests personality can influence effect that anxiety has on accuracy of EWT.