PSY 340 Exam 4 Questions and Answers Latest Update 2025 Graded A+
Eyewitness Testimony:Power of persuasive eyewitnesses
Seeing is believing - Answers -Whether credible or not
-We cannot tell a good eyewitness from a bad one
-One of the most powerful pieces of evidence in a trial
Eyewitness Testimony: power of persuasive eyewitness
Seeing is not always 20/20 - Answers -Misidentification
-Confidence
-Subtle variations
Confidence - Answers -People do believe eyewitnesses even in situations where they are not reliable
-The only time we discount eyewitnesses is when we have a better option (ie, another eyewitness)
-As you reinforce your idea of what the crime is, you become more confident, even if the memories are
not accurate. People are much more confident than they are accurate.
-Our memories can also be biased to please others, such as police officers
We do not always retain information if it is not schema consistent - Answers -Ex. Video of researchers
passing a ball back and forth, supposed to count the number of times the white ball is passed, but a
person in a gorilla suit walks into frame (only some people see the gorilla)
-Not focused on things that are not white, so therefore you don't see the gorilla
Eyewitness Feedback - Answers The kind of feedback eyewitness' recieve can reinforce their biases and
contribute to witnesses false sense of confidence
Reducing error - Answers -Train police interviewers
-Minimize false lineup identification
-Educate jurors
Train police interviewers - Answers -Let stream of consciousness flow in witnesses (cognitive
interviewing technique)
-They will recall more information that is also more accurate
-Follow-up questions should not LEAD the witness
, Minimize false lineup identifications - Answers Instead of a lineup with multiple people, a sequential
lineup allows for more accurate judgment by witness and avoid police stacking the lineup
Defendant Characteristics - Answers -Physical attractiveness
-Similarity to the Jurors (Beliefs)
Physical attractiveness - Answers Defendants receive a lower bail for being attractive
Similarity to the Jurors (Beliefs) - Answers -Same political affiliation
-When they speak the same language
-Race / gender and type of crime
-Identification = sympathy
The Judge - Answers -Inadmissible Evidence
-Pre-Trial Publicity
Inadmissible Evidence - Answers -Once it is said, hard to ignore
-Create reactance
-Especially when highly emotional
Pre-Trial Publicity - Answers -Judge must be careful to have jurors who are not impacted by this
-Deny an effect, but still influence
-Videotaped (edited) versus live (unedited)
The Jury - Answers -We like Stories (narratives)
-Understanding instructions
-Jury Selection
Understanding instructions - Answers -Statistical information
--You can mislead the jury by presenting information in a certain way
-Increasing understanding
Jury Selection - Answers -science takes over
-Evidence is still the best
Eyewitness Testimony:Power of persuasive eyewitnesses
Seeing is believing - Answers -Whether credible or not
-We cannot tell a good eyewitness from a bad one
-One of the most powerful pieces of evidence in a trial
Eyewitness Testimony: power of persuasive eyewitness
Seeing is not always 20/20 - Answers -Misidentification
-Confidence
-Subtle variations
Confidence - Answers -People do believe eyewitnesses even in situations where they are not reliable
-The only time we discount eyewitnesses is when we have a better option (ie, another eyewitness)
-As you reinforce your idea of what the crime is, you become more confident, even if the memories are
not accurate. People are much more confident than they are accurate.
-Our memories can also be biased to please others, such as police officers
We do not always retain information if it is not schema consistent - Answers -Ex. Video of researchers
passing a ball back and forth, supposed to count the number of times the white ball is passed, but a
person in a gorilla suit walks into frame (only some people see the gorilla)
-Not focused on things that are not white, so therefore you don't see the gorilla
Eyewitness Feedback - Answers The kind of feedback eyewitness' recieve can reinforce their biases and
contribute to witnesses false sense of confidence
Reducing error - Answers -Train police interviewers
-Minimize false lineup identification
-Educate jurors
Train police interviewers - Answers -Let stream of consciousness flow in witnesses (cognitive
interviewing technique)
-They will recall more information that is also more accurate
-Follow-up questions should not LEAD the witness
, Minimize false lineup identifications - Answers Instead of a lineup with multiple people, a sequential
lineup allows for more accurate judgment by witness and avoid police stacking the lineup
Defendant Characteristics - Answers -Physical attractiveness
-Similarity to the Jurors (Beliefs)
Physical attractiveness - Answers Defendants receive a lower bail for being attractive
Similarity to the Jurors (Beliefs) - Answers -Same political affiliation
-When they speak the same language
-Race / gender and type of crime
-Identification = sympathy
The Judge - Answers -Inadmissible Evidence
-Pre-Trial Publicity
Inadmissible Evidence - Answers -Once it is said, hard to ignore
-Create reactance
-Especially when highly emotional
Pre-Trial Publicity - Answers -Judge must be careful to have jurors who are not impacted by this
-Deny an effect, but still influence
-Videotaped (edited) versus live (unedited)
The Jury - Answers -We like Stories (narratives)
-Understanding instructions
-Jury Selection
Understanding instructions - Answers -Statistical information
--You can mislead the jury by presenting information in a certain way
-Increasing understanding
Jury Selection - Answers -science takes over
-Evidence is still the best
