Individual and Social Influences on Witness Memory: The Role of Anxiety, Gender and Social Conformity

Öz

This study examines the effects of anxiety level, gender, and social conformity on eyewitness memory regarding an event. Scales assessing anxiety level, a live mock event, a memory test, and an identification slide were used. The data of 60 participants (47 female, 13 male) were analyzed in the study. No significant relationship was found between anxiety level and recall performance. Although there was no significant gender difference in recalling the person’s appearance and event content, women had a significantly lower false alarm rate in the overall memory test. In the photo identification of the person involved in the event, only 5% of participants conformed to the confederates’ incorrect identification. A notable result regarding conformity was that hair might have an important effect on photo identification. Increasing group size did not increase conforming behavior.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Eyewitness Testimony
• Memory
• Anxiety Level
• Gender Difference
• Social Conformity

Tanık Belleğinde Bireysel ve Sosyal Etkiler: Kaygı, Cinsiyet ve Sosyal Uyumun Rolü

Öz

Bu araştırma, görgü tanıklarının olaya dair bellekleri üzerinde kaygı düzeyi, cinsiyet ve sosyal uyumun etkisini incelemektedir. Bu amaçla çalışmada kaygı düzeyini değerlendiren ölçekler, tanıklık için kurgulanmış canlı bir olay, olayla ilgili bellek testi ve teşhis slaytı kullanılmıştır. Çalışmada 60 katılımcının (47 kadın, 13 erkek) verisi analiz edilmiştir. Kaygı düzeyi ile katılımcıların olayı hatırlama performansları arasında anlamlı bir ilişkinin olmadığı görülmüştür. Olaydaki kişinin görünüşü ve olay içeriğini hatırlama performansları açısından cinsiyetler arasında anlamlı bir fark olmamasına rağmen genel olarak bellek testinde kadınların yanlış alarm oranının anlamlı şekilde daha az olduğu saptanmıştır. Olaydaki kişinin fotoğraftan teşhisinde katılımcıların sadece %5’i işbirlikçi katılımcıların yanlış teşhisine sosyal uyum göstermiştir. Uyum açısından dikkat çeken bir sonuç, fotoğraftan teşhiste saçın önemli bir etkisinin olabileceğini düşündürmesidir. Grup büyüklüğünün artmasının uyum davranışını arttırmadığı görülmüştür.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Görgü Tanıklığı
• Bellek
• Kaygı Düzeyi
• Cinsiyet Farklılıkları
• Sosyal Uyum

Teşekkür

Bellek testinin değerlendirilmesine yönelik yöntemsel önerileri için Doç. Dr. Sevda Bulduk’a teşekkür ederiz.

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