Maximizing Witness Confidence: Influential Factors and Strategies for Effective Testimony.

Identify and apply influences on witnesses’ confidence.

Overtime the eyewitness can get more confident that that perosn is indeed he person who commited the crime because of encoding the wrong information ( encode seeing that perosn but is not the offender ) – mugshots and prior imaging

There are several factors that can influence a witness’s confidence in their testimony, including:

1. Leading Questions: If a witness is asked leading questions that suggest a particular answer, their confidence in their response may be influenced. Leading questions can create a sense of pressure to provide the “right” answer, which can lead to an increase in confidence in the response provided.

2. Post-Event Information: If a witness is provided with additional information about an event after it occurred, it can influence their confidence in their memory of the original event. This is because the new information can create confusion or change how the witness recalls the original event.

3. Emotion: Witnesses who experience strong emotions during an event, such as fear or anxiety, may have reduced confidence in their testimony. This is because strong emotions can interfere with memory formation and recall.

4. Degree of Attention: The level of attention a witness pays to an event can influence their confidence in their memory of it. Witnesses who are distracted or not paying attention may have less confidence in their ability to recall details accurately.

To help witness confidence it is important that they are allowed to recount their testimony in their own words without being pressured. They should be given the opportunity to explain the specifics of what they remember and what they might not. It is also important to minimize distractions and ensure that the witness is focused when giving their testimony. Additionally, if possible, it is best to limit the amount of post-event information that is provided to the witness to avoid creating confusion in their memories. Overall, providing a supportive and non-confrontational environment can help to increase witness confidence in their testimony.

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