The results of the tests were very impressive. I wrote a list of more than ten words for each of the tests; however, in the second test I had what the lecturer calls “false memory” (False Memory, 2007). During the second test, I tried to recollect more words describing negative emotions, so I wrote “anger”, which had not been on the list.
I believe, eyewitness testimonies should be considered, of course, but they must be analyzed very carefully. Eyewitnesses can make mistakes due to the number of factors, including emotional stress, cross-rational identification, misinformation, unconscious transference, lineups, and others. So, the juries should not completely rely upon eyewitness testimonies, but also consider all kinds of additional information.
Encoding and retrieval of information are complicated processes. The accuracy of witnesses’ memory depends on an array of external factors, and the eyewitnesses’ personality may influence their testimony, too. For example, eyewitnesses may be very confident about what they testify, and juries tend to strongly believe such testimonies. However, the research shows a weak correlation between confidence and memory accuracy. Age is an important factor to consider, too. To illustrate, children’s testimonies can be influenced by how the interviewer sees the event; however, their testimonies can be reliable if the children are simply asked to describe the event. As for elderly eyewitnesses, they also prove to be suggestible witnesses.
Luckily, I have never had to witness in court. To be an eyewitness is a great responsibility, because the evidence can directly influence the final sentence. After what we have learned from chapter 7, I know that even if people are absolutely sure the events happened exactly the way they remember, they can be mistaken.
References
False Memory and Eyewitness Testimony (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfhIuaD183I
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