The mitigating effects of suspicion on post-identification feedback and on retrospective eyewitness memory

Law Hum Behav. 2007 Jun;31(3):231-47. doi: 10.1007/s10979-006-9047-7. Epub 2007 Jan 26.

Abstract

Three studies examined procedures for reducing the post-identification feedback effect. After viewing a video event, participants were then asked to identify a suspect from a target-absent photo lineup. After making their identification, some participants were given information suggesting that their identification was correct, while others were given no information about the accuracy of their identification. Some participants who received confirming feedback were also given reasons to entertain suspicion regarding the motives of the lineup administrator, either immediately (Experiment 1) or after a one-week retention interval (Experiment 2). Suspicious perceivers failed to demonstrate the confidence inflation effects typically associated with confirming post-identification feedback. In Experiment 3, the confidence prophylactic effect was tested both immediately and after a one-week retention interval. The effect of confidence prophylactic varied with retention interval such that it eliminated the effects of post-identification feedback immediately but not after a retention interval. However, the suspicion manipulation eliminated the post-identification feedback effects at both time intervals. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Alabama
  • Criminal Law*
  • Humans
  • Knowledge of Results, Psychological*
  • Motivation
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Recognition, Psychology*
  • Retention, Psychology
  • Time Factors
  • Videotape Recording