Eyewitness testimony plays a crucial role in criminal justice, yet it's prone to inaccuracies due to factors like memory decay, suggestibility, stress, and cognitive biases. Studies have shown that confirmation bias and misleading information can distort memories, while post-event discussions may lead to memory contamination. The reliability of such testimonies can significantly influence legal outcomes, highlighting the need for careful evaluation in court.
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Memories can naturally decay over time, leading to incomplete or altered recollections
External Information
External information can influence a witness's memory, leading to inaccuracies
Societal Stereotypes
Pre-existing societal stereotypes can impact eyewitness identification and lead to false identifications
High levels of stress and anxiety can impair memory encoding and retrieval, affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony
Confirmation bias can shape how witnesses perceive and recall events, leading to biased or inaccurate testimony
The introduction of misleading information after an event can distort a witness's memory, affecting the accuracy of their testimony
Post-event discussions among witnesses can lead to memory contamination, where one witness's recollection can influence another's memory of the event
Research has produced mixed results on the impact of anxiety on eyewitness memory, with some studies showing impairment and others showing accurate recall
The impact of anxiety on memory may vary based on individual differences and the nature of the event
The level of stress experienced by a witness may affect their memory differently based on their individual differences
Flawed eyewitness testimony can lead to wrongful convictions, highlighting the need for the legal system to recognize and mitigate factors that can undermine its accuracy
Legal professionals and psychologists must understand the factors that can affect eyewitness testimony to accurately assess its reliability and prevent miscarriages of justice
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Psychological studies have shown that ______ testimony can be prone to mistakes due to various influencing factors.
eyewitness
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Memory Decay Impact
Natural loss of information over time affecting witness recall.
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Suggestibility Influence
External info sways witness memory, altering recall accuracy.
