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Do older adults change their eyewitness reports when re-questioned?
1Correspondence should be addressed to Linda A. Henkel, Department of Psychology, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT 06824.
Summary
Older adults are vulnerable to memory changes when re-questioned, especially with misleading questions or negative feedback. Repeated questioning can increase response changes, impacting witness testimony accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Eyewitness memory is crucial in legal settings.
- Older adults may be susceptible to memory alterations under certain conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how older adults' memory responses change when subjected to different pressures during re-questioning.
- To compare the effects of negative feedback and stereotype threat on memory recall in younger and older adults.
Main Methods:
- Participants watched a crime video and answered questions.
- They were re-questioned after receiving negative feedback, stereotype threat, or no specific pressure.
- Response changes were analyzed based on question type (leading vs. non-leading) and age group.
Main Results:
- Both age groups changed more responses after negative feedback and on misleading questions.
- Older adults showed increased response changes and decreased accuracy with advancing age.
- Confidence in responses remained moderate, irrespective of accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Repeatedly questioning older witnesses, particularly with misleading questions, poses risks to memory accuracy.
- Altered memory responses can become confidently held, regardless of their veracity, impacting legal proceedings.
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