Accuracy of Eyewitness Memory Under Leading Questioning: The Effects of Hypnosis and Anxiety

• Main Author: Atkins, Loy Keith, 1955-
• Other Authors: Conoley, Collie
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: North Texas State University 1984
• Subjects: hypnosis; eyewitnesses; eyewitness memory; Witnesses.; Memory.; Hypnotism.
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc332031/

Hypnosis has gained substantial support in the psychological community, as well as related health professions. The intense renewal of interest in hypnosis has also affected our legal-judicial system. Many police investigators trained in hypnosis operate from an exactcopy memory theory. They claim eyewitness eyewitness retrieve veridically stored memory traces from long-term memory, if questioned under hypnosis. Conversely, other researchers ascribe to a reconstructive memory theory. They believe hypnosis increases the likelihood of eliciting erroneous memories from eyewitnesses, especially under leading questioning. The purpose of the present investigation was to test the effects of hypnotic induction and anxiety on the accuracy of subjects' memory for eyewitnessed events when questioned with leading, non-leading, and embedded misinformation questions.