Eyewitness identification under stress in the London Dungeon
Open accessAbstract
Eyewitness experiments do not induce the stress experienced by victims of crime. It is important to understand the effect of stress if results of laboratory studies are to be generalised to victims and witnesses of real crimes, but previous research has shown a mixed picture. The ability of visitors to the London Dungeon to describe and identify somebody encountered in the Horror Labyrinth was investigated, as a function of their state anxiety. To validate the measure of state anxiety, participants wore a wireless heart rate monitor whilst in the labyrinth. High state anxiety was associated with a higher heart rate. Subsequently, visitors completed measures of their state anxiety experienced whilst in the labyrinth and a measure of trait anxiety. High state anxiety was associated with reporting fewer correct descriptors of the target person, more incorrect details and making fewer correct identifications from a lineup. There was no effect of trait anxiety on eyewitness memory. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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In Valentine & Mesout (2009), participants reporting higher state anxiety made fewer correct identifications from a lineup, reported fewer accurate descriptors, and provided more incorrect details about the person than those reporting lower state anxiety.
“Participants reporting higher state anxiety made fewer correct identi fi cations from a lineup, reported fewer accurate descriptors of the person, and provided more incorrect details about the person than those who reported lower state anxiety.”
From The effects of acute stress on eyewitness memory: An integrative review for eyewitness researchers (2021) · cites this paper as Valentine & Mesout, 2009
In eyewitness field studies, researchers have used a visit to the London Dungeon, interactive police officer training scenarios, or a military survival school programme as stressors.
“In eyewitness fi eld studies, researchers have used a visit to the London Dungeon (Valentine & Mesout, 2009), interactive police o ffi cer training scenarios (Hope et al., 2016; Hulse & Memon, 2006; Stanny & Johnson, 2000), or a military survival school programme (Morgan et al., 2004) as stressors.”
From The effects of acute stress on eyewitness memory: An integrative review for eyewitness researchers (2021) · cites this paper as Valentine & Mesout, 2009
Among the more recent studies, only two included measurements of heart rate and cortisol levels to corroborate the stress manipulation.
“Among the more recent studies, only two included measurements of heart rate (Valentine & Mesout, 2009) and cortisol levels (Rush et al., 2013) to corroborate the stress manipulation.”
From Stress, stress-induced cortisol responses, and eyewitness identification performance (2016) · cites this paper as Valentine & Mesout, 2009
Cites
Spielberger, C. D. (2010) · The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology · doi:10.1002/9780470479216.corpsy0943 · Cited by 2,535 · see citing works
Emotional stress and eyewitness memory: A critical review
Christianson, S.-Å. (1992) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.112.2.284 · Cited by 1,112 · see citing works
A meta-analytic review of the effects of high stress on eyewitness memory
Deffenbacher, K. A., Bornstein, B. H., Penrod, S. D., & McGorty, E. K. (2004) · Law and Human Behavior · doi:10.1007/s10979-004-0565-x · Cited by 489 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Furthermore, the experience of stress in a naturalistic context had a similar, catastrophic effect on the accuracy of eyewitness memory to that observed in more artificial laboratory studies that successfully induce an activation mode of attentional control (Deffenbacher et al., 2004).”
BackgroundResultAccuracy of eyewitness memory for persons encountered during exposure to highly intense stress
Morgan, C. A., Hazlett, G., Doran, A., Garrett, S., Hoyt, G., Thomas, P., Baranoski, M., & Southwick, S. M. (2004) · International Journal of Law and Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.ijlp.2004.03.004 · Cited by 195 · see citing works
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Stress, stress-induced cortisol responses, and eyewitness identification performance
Sauerland, M., Raymaekers, L. H. C., Otgaar, H., Memon, A., Waltjen, T. T., Nivo, M., Slegers, C., Broers, N. J., & Smeets, T. (2016) · Behavioral Sciences & the Law · doi:10.1002/bsl.2249 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
The effects of acute stress on eyewitness memory: An integrative review for eyewitness researchers
Marr, C., Sauerland, M., Otgaar, H., Quaedflieg, C. W. E. M., & Hope, L. (2021) · Memory · doi:10.1080/09658211.2021.1955935 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
“In eyewitness field studies, researchers have used a visit to the London Dungeon (Valentine & Mesout, 2009), interactive police officer training scenarios (Hope et al., 2016; Hulse & Memon, 2006; Stanny & Johnson, 2000), or a military survival school programme (Morgan et al., 2004) as stressors.”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
- Authors
- Valentine, T., & Mesout, J.
- Affiliations
- Goldsmiths University of London (GB)
- Venue
- Applied Cognitive Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-05-31
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 151-161
- ISSN
- 0888-4080 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-0720
- OpenAlex
- W1967084298
- Cited by
- 110
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 3.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Applied Cognitive Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/L006820/1)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Deception detection and forensic psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Keywords
- eyewitness identification, stress, state anxiety, trait anxiety, heart rate, eyewitness memory, lineup identification, crime victims
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