Accuracy of eyewitness Testimony - anxiety

• Research against weapon focus


  Could be due to surprise rather than anxiety

  ppts watched a thief enter a salon on 4 conditions carrying

  scissor (high threat/low surprise)

  gun (high threat/high surprise)

  chicken (low threat/high suprise)

  wallet (low threat/low surprise)

  Identification least accurate in surprised conditions

  Shows weapon focus is related to surprise not anxiety
• Individual differences


  Caused by extraneous variable of emotional sensitivity rather than anxiety.

  Ppts assessed for neuroticism - anxious quickly - ppts labelled neurotic or stable

  Stable - accuracy increases as stress did

  Neurotics accuracy decreased as stress increased

  depends on sensitive/non sensitive ppts