The effects of alcohol and co-witness information on memory reports: a field study

Georgina Bartlett; Ian P. Albery; Daniel Frings; Julie Gawrylowicz

doi:10.1007/s00213-022-06179-5

The effects of alcohol and co-witness information on memory reports: a field study

Georgina Bartlett^*, Ian P. Albery, Daniel Frings, Julie Gawrylowicz

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

6 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Rationale: Witnesses who discuss a crime together may report details that they did not see themselves but heard about from their co-witness. Co-witness information may have beneficial and harmful effects on memory accuracy depending on whether the information was correct or incorrect.

Objectives: Given the prevalence of intoxicated witnesses, it is imperative to understand how alcohol influences this effect.

Methods: The present study asked pubgoers (n = 67) at varying levels of intoxication to recall a mock crime video after having also watched a video witness statement containing both correct and false information.

Results: Increased intoxication was associated with decreased confidence, completeness and accuracy, but no increased tendency to report false information. Exposure to incorrect post-event information (PEI) can lead to the incorporation of incorrect information, whereas exposure to correct PEI increased accuracy, regardless of individuals’ alcohol intoxication status.

Conclusions: Thus, whilst discussion and intoxication can negatively impact eyewitness memory, discussion may also have benefits for both sober and intoxicated witnesses.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2945-2953
Number of pages	9
Journal	Psychopharmacology
Volume	239
Issue number	9
Early online date	28 Jun 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-022-06179-5
Publication status	Published - 1 Sep 2022

Keywords

Eyewitness memory
Intoxication
Memory conformity
Source monitoring

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1007/s00213-022-06179-5Licence: CC BY

Gawrylowicz_TheEfectsOfAlcoholAndCo‑WitnessInformation_Published_2022Final published version, 691 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{6e1c2bd2d23342e4a9ab2b76148d0cce,

title = "The effects of alcohol and co-witness information on memory reports: a field study",

abstract = "Rationale: Witnesses who discuss a crime together may report details that they did not see themselves but heard about from their co-witness. Co-witness information may have beneficial and harmful effects on memory accuracy depending on whether the information was correct or incorrect.Objectives: Given the prevalence of intoxicated witnesses, it is imperative to understand how alcohol influences this effect.Methods: The present study asked pubgoers (n = 67) at varying levels of intoxication to recall a mock crime video after having also watched a video witness statement containing both correct and false information.Results: Increased intoxication was associated with decreased confidence, completeness and accuracy, but no increased tendency to report false information. Exposure to incorrect post-event information (PEI) can lead to the incorporation of incorrect information, whereas exposure to correct PEI increased accuracy, regardless of individuals{\textquoteright} alcohol intoxication status.Conclusions: Thus, whilst discussion and intoxication can negatively impact eyewitness memory, discussion may also have benefits for both sober and intoxicated witnesses.",

author = "Georgina Bartlett and Albery, {Ian P.} and Daniel Frings and Julie Gawrylowicz",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s).",

year = "2022",

month = sep,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1007/s00213-022-06179-5",

language = "English",

volume = "239",

pages = "2945--2953",

journal = "Psychopharmacology",

issn = "0033-3158",

publisher = "Springer Verlag",

number = "9",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The effects of alcohol and co-witness information on memory reports

T2 - a field study

AU - Bartlett, Georgina

AU - Albery, Ian P.

AU - Frings, Daniel

AU - Gawrylowicz, Julie

PY - 2022/9/1

Y1 - 2022/9/1

N2 - Rationale: Witnesses who discuss a crime together may report details that they did not see themselves but heard about from their co-witness. Co-witness information may have beneficial and harmful effects on memory accuracy depending on whether the information was correct or incorrect.Objectives: Given the prevalence of intoxicated witnesses, it is imperative to understand how alcohol influences this effect.Methods: The present study asked pubgoers (n = 67) at varying levels of intoxication to recall a mock crime video after having also watched a video witness statement containing both correct and false information.Results: Increased intoxication was associated with decreased confidence, completeness and accuracy, but no increased tendency to report false information. Exposure to incorrect post-event information (PEI) can lead to the incorporation of incorrect information, whereas exposure to correct PEI increased accuracy, regardless of individuals’ alcohol intoxication status.Conclusions: Thus, whilst discussion and intoxication can negatively impact eyewitness memory, discussion may also have benefits for both sober and intoxicated witnesses.

AB - Rationale: Witnesses who discuss a crime together may report details that they did not see themselves but heard about from their co-witness. Co-witness information may have beneficial and harmful effects on memory accuracy depending on whether the information was correct or incorrect.Objectives: Given the prevalence of intoxicated witnesses, it is imperative to understand how alcohol influences this effect.Methods: The present study asked pubgoers (n = 67) at varying levels of intoxication to recall a mock crime video after having also watched a video witness statement containing both correct and false information.Results: Increased intoxication was associated with decreased confidence, completeness and accuracy, but no increased tendency to report false information. Exposure to incorrect post-event information (PEI) can lead to the incorporation of incorrect information, whereas exposure to correct PEI increased accuracy, regardless of individuals’ alcohol intoxication status.Conclusions: Thus, whilst discussion and intoxication can negatively impact eyewitness memory, discussion may also have benefits for both sober and intoxicated witnesses.

U2 - 10.1007/s00213-022-06179-5

DO - 10.1007/s00213-022-06179-5

M3 - Article

VL - 239

SP - 2945

EP - 2953

JO - Psychopharmacology

JF - Psychopharmacology

SN - 0033-3158

IS - 9

ER -

The effects of alcohol and co-witness information on memory reports: a field study

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this