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Eye-Witness Testimony Many individuals were called upon to offer their observati

ID: 3500702 • Letter: E

Question

Eye-Witness Testimony

Many individuals were called upon to offer their observations when a crime is committed. In these cases, eye-witnesses can often be called into the case as well to provide a seemingly clearer of what took place in a incident.

Consider the following: You are serving on jury duty for a case involving a car accident with several eye-witnesses. Based on what you know from the reading about memory, what major factors do you believe are most important in influencing the accuracy of the eye-witness testimony, and why?

Explanation / Answer

Memory reconstruction

Exact recording is not stored in memory rather te fragmented. So eye witness reconstruct memory by joining the dots which might be influenced by interrogation or some prejudice.

Visual characteristics

If a person /accused changes his appearance , like short hair and use if glass , then eye witness may wrongly identify.

Familiairity

those who are familiar faces , they are more likely to be identified as offender because eye witness does not remember where he saw that person but then conclude by staying he was on crime scene.

Anxiety and stress

They are the biggest Influencer of normal behavior in any circumstances.