Uncovering Memory Biases: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Different Types of Biases Seen in Witness Testimonies.

What 7 biases influence eyewitness memory?

1. Cross racial identification 2. Stress and weapons 3. Unconscious transference 4. Preexisting expectations 5. Leading/ suggestive comments or questioning 6. Witness confidence 7. When the witness is a child

1. Misinformation Effect Bias: This bias occurs when new and incorrect information is provided to the witness after the event. This information can distort the original memory of the witness, leading to inaccurate testimony.

2. Confirmation Bias: This bias occurs when a witness forms a belief or expectation about a person or event before or after witnessing it. This belief can influence the witness’s memory, causing them to remember information that is consistent with their belief and disregard information that is inconsistent.

3. Recall Bias: This bias occurs when a witness’s memory is influenced by the way questions are framed or phrased by investigators or interviewers. The wording of questions can alter the witness’s recollection of events and can lead to false or inaccurate testimony.

4. Post-Event Information Bias: This bias occurs when information is presented to a witness after an event. This can lead to a reconstruction of the original memory as the witness incorporates the new information into their recollection of the event.

5. Expectancy Bias: This bias occurs when a witness expects a certain outcome or has a preconceived notion of what took place, causing them to unknowingly shape their recollection of the event to support their expectations.

6. Weapon-Focus Bias: This bias occurs when a witness’s memory is affected by the presence of a weapon, leading them to focus on the weapon rather than the person holding it, or other details of the event. Because of this it can lead to false positive identifications.

7. Cross-Race Identification Bias: Research has shown that people are generally better recognized within their own race than outside of it leading to a less reliable memory of someone of a different race, ethnicity, or culture.

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