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Stevens LM, Monds LA, Riordan B, Hayre RK, Flowe HD. Acute alcohol intoxication and alcohol expectancy effects on women's memory for consensual and non-consensual sexual activity. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1008563. [PMID: 36817373 PMCID: PMC9929452 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1008563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To test whether acute alcohol intoxication and alcohol expectancy affects how accurately women remember consensual and non-consensual sexual activity that occurred during an interactive hypothetical dating scenario. Design A balanced placebo randomized study that varied alcohol dose (mean Breath Alcohol Content; BrAC = 0.06%) and alcohol expectancy prior to participants encoding a hypothetical interactive rape scenario was implemented. Participants could elect to consent to sexual activity with a male partner in the hypothetical scenario. If they stopped consenting, non-consensual sexual intercourse (i.e., rape) was described. Seven days later, participants' memory for consensual and non-consensual sexual activity in the scenario was tested. Main outcome measures Memory accuracy, confidence, and feelings of intoxication. Results A total of 90 females (M age = 20.5, SD = 2.2) were tested regarding their memory accuracy for the consensual and non-consensual sexual activities in the scenario. A multi-level logistic regression predicting memory accuracy for the perpetrator's behaviors during the rape indicated no effect of alcohol intoxication. However, a main effect of alcohol expectancy was found, whereby participants who expected to consume alcohol, compared to those who did not, recalled the perpetrator's behaviors during the rape more accurately. A second regression predicting memory accuracy for consensual sexual activity found no main effects for alcohol intoxication or alcohol expectancy. Participants recalled consensual sexual activity with a high degree of accuracy. Calibration analyses indicated that accuracy increased with confidence level, regardless of intoxication level or alcohol expectancy condition, but that women tended to be overconfident in general. Conclusion This study provides an important test of how accurately women remember consensual and non-consensual sexual activities. The accuracy of this information is important for forensic medical examinations and police investigations following an allegation of sexual assault. Increased memory accuracy was found for offence details when participants expected to consume alcohol, suggesting there may be important differences in attentional processes (e.g., hypervigilance) depending on whether threat is present. Further research is necessary to investigate memory for sexual violence in real-world settings and to test methods for ascertaining the most complete and reliable accounts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M. Stevens
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Laura M. Stevens, ✉
| | - Lauren Ann Monds
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, Australia,Drug and Alcohol Services, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Benjamin Riordan
- School of Psychology and Public Health, Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rumandeep K. Hayre
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Heather D. Flowe
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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2
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Hildebrand Karlén M, de Bejczy A, Anckarsäter H, Guðjónsson G. What does current science tell us about the accuracy, reliability, and completeness of intoxicated witnesses? A case example of the murder of a prime minister. Front Psychol 2022; 13:982992. [PMID: 36389524 PMCID: PMC9650999 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.982992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Generally, the testimony of intoxicated witnesses has been considered relatively unreliable, but recent research has nuanced the knowledge base regarding these vulnerable witnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Hildebrand Karlén
- Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department for Forensic Psychiatry, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden, Gothenburg, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Malin Hildebrand Karlén
| | - Andrea de Bejczy
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Henrik Anckarsäter
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gísli Guðjónsson
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Business, Reykjavík University, Reykjavík, Iceland
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3
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The intoxicated co-witness: effects of alcohol and dyadic discussion on memory conformity and event recall. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:1485-1493. [PMID: 33566113 PMCID: PMC8139901 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05776-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Co-witness discussion is common and often witnesses are under the influence of alcohol. As such, it is important to understand how such factors may influence eyewitness testimony. OBJECTIVES We combined a co-witness memory paradigm with an alcohol administration paradigm to examine the influence of alcohol and dyadic discussion on remembering a mock crime. METHODS Intoxicated and sober dyads discussed a previously seen video, whilst in a control condition sober and intoxicated individuals recalled the event on their own. Unknown to the dyads, each discussion partner saw a different version of the video including unique details not present in the other video version. All participants then engaged in a second individual recall attempt. RESULTS Dyads were more likely to recall misleading details in their individual recall attempts compared to the control group. Intoxicated and sober dyads were equally likely to report misleading information. Alcohol intoxication had no negative impact on individuals' ability to correctly identify the source of their responses. Intoxicated participants recalled fewer details under free recall conditions. Alcohol had a detrimental effect on participants' confidence in their free recall accounts. CONCLUSIONS Possible alcohol-related and social-cognitive mechanisms are discussed which may contribute to the current findings as well as applied implications for interviewing intoxicated witnesses.
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Crossland D, Kneller W, Wilcock R. Improving intoxicated witness recall with the Enhanced Cognitive Interview. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:2213-2230. [PMID: 32382783 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05531-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Witnesses and victims typically provide the central leads in police investigations, yet statistics from past research indicates in many instances these individuals are intoxicated. OBJECTIVES To date, however, no research has looked at how best to interview such witnesses to maximise the amount of accurate information they recall. METHODS In the present research, whilst on a night out, participants watched a videoed theft whilst either sober or moderately (MBAC = 0.05%) or severely (MBAC = 0.14%) intoxicated. A week later, in a different location, participants were interviewed using either the Enhanced Cognitive (ECI) or Structured Interview. RESULTS The ECI was found to improve the recall accuracy and completeness of witness accounts across all three drinking conditions. However, no significant interaction was indicated between alcohol and interview condition. CONCLUSIONS The study findings are discussed in terms of their real-world value in aiding police officers to elicit as complete and as accurate an account as possible from intoxicated witnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Crossland
- Department of Psychology, The University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 4NR, UK.
| | - Wendy Kneller
- Department of Psychology, The University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 4NR, UK
| | - Rachel Wilcock
- Department of Psychology, The University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 4NR, UK
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5
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Harvey AJ, Shrimpton B, Azzopardi Z, O'Grady K, Hicks E, Hirst E, Atkinson‐Cox K. The influence of alcohol and weapon presence on eyewitness memory and confidence. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.3636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zoe Azzopardi
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Portsmouth Portsmouth UK
| | | | - Emily Hicks
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Portsmouth Portsmouth UK
| | - Emily Hirst
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Portsmouth Portsmouth UK
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Jaffe AE, Harris CM, DiLillo D. Observing Alcohol Myopia in the Context of a Trauma Film Paradigm: Differential Recall of Central and Peripheral Details. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:2203-2211. [PMID: 31381171 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A major tenet of the alcohol myopia model is that intoxication results in a narrowing of attention to the most central environmental cues, at the cost of more peripheral information. Though long hypothesized, no known study of alcohol myopia has demonstrated differential immediate recall of central and peripheral cues using a standardized task. To address this gap, we conducted an alcohol administration study with a clear, standardized focus-a trauma film. METHODS Ninety-eight female social drinkers completed self-report measures, and then were randomized to consume a placebo beverage, a low dose of alcohol (mean breath alcohol concentration [BrAC] = 0.04%), or a high dose of alcohol (mean BrAC = 0.11%). Participants then moved to a staged room where they viewed a film clip depicting a sexual assault. After leaving the room, participants completed a written free recall task of the film and the room. RESULTS The distinction between recall of central and peripheral details was supported by confirmatory factor analysis. Consistent with the alcohol myopia model, relative to placebo, a high dose of alcohol led to impaired recall of peripheral (but not central) details. Although the interaction between BrAC and information type (central vs. peripheral) was not statistically significant, simple effects revealed a strong association between BrAC and peripheral information, and no association between BrAC and central information. Bolstering myopia as an explanation for our findings, neither central nor peripheral information correlated with self-reported tendencies to dissociate or distract oneself, or typical alcohol consumption or expectancies. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol myopia can be observed through an immediate free recall task following a stressful film. Additional research is needed to continue evaluating dose-dependent differential recall in larger samples. This task may be useful for clarifying the role of alcohol myopia in clinical phenomena, such as aggressive behavior and processing traumatic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Jaffe
- From the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, (AEJ), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Christina M Harris
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, (CMH), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - David DiLillo
- Department of Psychology, (DD), University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska
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Oorsouw K, Broers NJ, Sauerland M. Alcohol intoxication impairs eyewitness memory and increases suggestibility: Two field studies. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.3561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kim Oorsouw
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Forensic Psychology SectionMaastricht University Maastricht the Netherlands
| | - Nick J. Broers
- Department of Methodology and StatisticsMaastricht University Maastricht the Netherlands
| | - Melanie Sauerland
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Forensic Psychology SectionMaastricht University Maastricht the Netherlands
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8
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Flowe HD, Humphries JE, Takarangi MK, Zelek K, Karoğlu N, Gabbert F, Hope L. An experimental examination of the effects of alcohol consumption and exposure to misleading postevent information on remembering a hypothetical rape scenario. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2019; 33:393-413. [PMID: 31423049 PMCID: PMC6686984 DOI: 10.1002/acp.3531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We experimentally examined the effects of alcohol consumption and exposure to misleading postevent information on memory for a hypothetical interactive rape scenario. We used a 2 beverage (alcohol vs. tonic water) × 2 expectancy (told alcohol vs. told tonic) factorial design. Participants (N = 80) were randomly assigned to conditions. They consumed alcohol (mean blood alcohol content = 0.06%) or tonic water before engaging in the scenario. Alcohol expectancy was controlled by telling participants they were consuming alcohol or tonic water alone, irrespective of the actual beverage they were consuming. Approximately a week later, participants were exposed to a misleading postevent narrative and then recalled the scenario and took a recognition test. Participants who were told that they had consumed alcohol rather than tonic reported fewer correct details, but they were no more likely to report incorrect or misleading information. The confidence-accuracy relationship for control and misled items was similar across groups, and there was some evidence that metacognitive discrimination was better for participants who were told that they had consumed alcohol compared with those told they had tonic water. Implications for interviewing rape victims are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kasia Zelek
- School of Neuroscience, Psychology and BehaviourUniversity of LeicesterLeicesterUK
| | | | - Fiona Gabbert
- Department of PsychologyGoldsmiths, University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Lorraine Hope
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of PortsmouthPortsmouthUK
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9
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How elevated blood alcohol concentration level and identification format affect eyewitness memory: A field study. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.3535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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10
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Gawrylowicz J, Scoboria A, Teodorini R, Albery IP. Intoxicated eyewitnesses: The effect of a fully balanced placebo design on event memory and metacognitive control. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.3504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Gawrylowicz
- Department of Psychology, School of Social and Health SciencesAbertay University Dundee UK
| | - Alan Scoboria
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Windsor Windsor Ontario Canada
| | | | - Ian P. Albery
- Division of PsychologyLondon South Bank University London UK
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Mindthoff A, Hagsand AV, Schreiber Compo N, Evans JR. Does alcohol loosen the tongue? Intoxicated individuals' willingness to report transgressions or criminal behavior carried out by themselves or others. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.3480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Mindthoff
- Department of PsychologyFlorida International University Miami Florida
| | - Angelica V. Hagsand
- Department of PsychologyFlorida International University Miami Florida
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
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12
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Altman CM, Schreiber Compo N, McQuiston D, Hagsand AV, Cervera J. Witnesses’ memory for events and faces under elevated levels of intoxication. Memory 2018; 26:946-959. [DOI: 10.1080/09658211.2018.1445758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dawn McQuiston
- Department of Psychology, Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC, USA
| | - Angelica V. Hagsand
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jiselle Cervera
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
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13
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Do intoxicated witnesses produce poor facial composite images? Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:2991-3003. [PMID: 30120491 PMCID: PMC6182606 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-4989-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The effect of alcohol intoxication on witness memory and performance has been the subject of research for some time, however, whether intoxication affects facial composite construction has not been investigated. OBJECTIVES Intoxication was predicted to adversely affect facial composite construction. METHODS Thirty-two participants were allocated to one of four beverage conditions consisting of factorial combinations of alcohol or placebo at face encoding, and later construction. Participants viewed a video of a target person and constructed a composite of this target the following day. The resulting images were presented as a full face composite, or a part face consisting of either internal or external facial features to a second sample of participants who provided likeness ratings as a measure of facial composite quality. RESULTS Intoxication at face encoding had a detrimental impact on the quality of facial composites produced the following day, suggesting that alcohol impaired the encoding of the target faces. The common finding that external compared to internal features are more accurately represented was demonstrated, even following alcohol at encoding. This finding was moderated by alcohol and target face gender such that alcohol at face encoding resulted in reduced likeness of external features for male composite faces only. CONCLUSIONS Moderate alcohol intoxication impairs the quality of facial composites, adding to existing literature demonstrating little effect of alcohol on line-up studies. The impact of intoxication on face perception mechanisms, and the apparent narrowing of processing to external face areas such as hair, is discussed in the context of alcohol myopia theory.
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Hildebrand Karlén M. Interviewing intoxicated witnesses: Memory performance in theory and practice. Scand J Psychol 2017; 59:113-126. [PMID: 29152755 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Memory encoding and recall involving complex, effortful cognitive processes are impaired by alcohol primarily due to impairment of a select few, but crucial, cortical areas. This review shows how alcohol affects some, but not all, aspects of eyewitnesses' oral free recall performance. The principal results, so far, are that: a) free recall reports by intoxicated witnesses (at the investigated BAC-levels) may contain less, but as accurate, information as reports by sober witnesses; b) immediate reports given by intoxicated witnesses may yield more information compared to reports by sober witnesses given after a one week delay; c) an immediate interview may enhance both intoxicated and sober witnesses' ability to report information in a later interview; and d) reminiscence seems to occur over repeated interviews and the new information seems to be as accurate as the previously reported information. Based on this, recommendations are given for future research to enhance understanding of the multifaceted impact of alcohol on witnesses' oral free recall of violent crimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Hildebrand Karlén
- National Board of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Psychiatric Unit, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health, The Section of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
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15
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Thorley C, Christiansen P. The impact of own and others' alcohol consumption on social contagion following a collaborative memory task. Memory 2017; 26:727-740. [PMID: 29141512 DOI: 10.1080/09658211.2017.1404110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
When one person alters his or her recollection of an event to be consistent with another person's erroneous account of the same event, social contagion has occurred. In two studies, we examined whether alcohol consumption influences the degree to which people engage in social contagion. In Study 1, participants consumed alcohol, an alcohol placebo, or a soft drink and then completed a collaborative recall test with a confederate who consumed a soft drink. In Study 2, participants consumed a soft drink and then completed a collaborative recall test with a confederate they believed had consumed a soft drink or alcohol (but no alcohol was ever consumed). In both studies, the confederate made scripted errors during the collaborative recall test. On post-collaborative individual recall and recognition tests, participants in both studies engaged in social contagion by including the confederate's errors in their own recollection. In Study 1, the drink participants consumed had no influence on social contagion. In Study 2, participants were less likely to engage in social contagion after collaborating with a confederate who had seemingly consumed alcohol. That same confederate was viewed as less accurate, trustworthy, and credible, which likely made participants less inclined to engage in social contagion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Thorley
- a Department of Psychology , James Cook University , Townsville , Australia
| | - Paul Christiansen
- b Department of Psychological Sciences , University of Liverpool , Liverpool , England
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16
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Hildebrand Karlén M, Roos Af Hjelmsäter E, Fahlke C, Granhag PA, Söderpalm-Gordh A. To wait or not to wait? Improving results when interviewing intoxicated witnesses to violence. Scand J Psychol 2017; 58:15-22. [PMID: 28054379 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Witnesses to violent crimes are often alcohol intoxicated, but few studies have investigated the impact of alcohol on witness reports. This study investigated how alcohol intoxication and time of interview affected reports of intimate partner violence (IPV). One hundred thirty six healthy men (N = 66) and women (N = 70) were randomized to an alcohol group (0.8g/kg for men, 0.75g/kg for women) (N = 70) or control group (N = 66), given juice. Participants consumed drinks in a laboratory setting before they witnessed an IPV scenario. Fifty percent of the intoxicated and sober participants were interviewed ten minutes after viewing the film and all participants were interviewed one week later. For the analyses, participants in the alcohol group were divided into two groups (moderately/highly intoxicated) based on their BAC-level. Ten minutes after viewing the event, highly (BAC = 0.08-0.15) intoxicated witnesses gave shorter, but as accurate, reports as moderately intoxicated/sober witnesses. All witnesses gave shorter and less accurate reports one week later compared to immediately after. However, an immediate interview increased completeness one week later. In general, time and high intoxication made witnesses give less detailed accounts of actions and verbal information, but not of objects. Highly intoxicated witnesses reported less actions and verbal information in all interviews, while information regarding objects was reported to a similar extent. At the present BAC-level, it is beneficial to conduct an immediate free recall interview with intoxicated witnesses to obtain a maximum amount of correct information and minimize the negative effect of time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Claudia Fahlke
- Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pär Anders Granhag
- Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.,Norwegian Police University College, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna Söderpalm-Gordh
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
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Hagsand AV, Roos Af Hjelmsäter E, Granhag PA, Fahlke C, Söderpalm Gordh A. Witnesses stumbling down memory lane: The effects of alcohol intoxication, retention interval, and repeated interviewing. Memory 2016; 25:531-543. [PMID: 27249626 DOI: 10.1080/09658211.2016.1191652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Intoxicated eyewitnesses are often discredited by investigators and in court, but few studies have examined how alcohol affects witnesses' memory. The primary aim of the present study was to examine how intoxication (alcohol vs. control), retention interval (immediate vs. one week delay), and number of interviews (one vs. two interviews) affect witnesses' memory. The participants (N = 99) were randomly assigned to consume either orange juice or alcohol mixed with orange juice, and they all witnessed a filmed mock crime afterwards. The recall took place either (a) immediately and after a one week delay or (b) after a one week delay only. No main effect of alcohol was found on the quantity or quality of the witnesses' statements. Both intoxicated and sober witnesses recalled more details, and were more accurate, during immediate compared to delayed recall. For witnesses interviewed twice, an average of 30% new details were provided in the second compared to the first interview, and these were highly accurate. In sum, contrary to what one can expect, intoxicated witnesses with a low to moderate blood alcohol concentration (below 0.10%) were reliable witnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica V Hagsand
- a Department of Psychology , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.,b Department of Psychology , Florida International University , Miami , FL , USA
| | | | - Pär Anders Granhag
- a Department of Psychology , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.,c Department of Psychology , University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.,d Norwegian Police University College , Oslo , Norway
| | - Claudia Fahlke
- a Department of Psychology , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Anna Söderpalm Gordh
- e Section of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden
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Crossland D, Kneller W, Wilcock R. Intoxicated Witnesses: Testing the Validity of the Alcohol Myopia Theory. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.3209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Van Oorsouw K, Merckelbach H, Smeets T. Alcohol Intoxication Impairs Memory and Increases Suggestibility for a Mock Crime: A Field Study. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.3129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. Van Oorsouw
- Forensic Psychology Section; Maastricht University; Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - H. Merckelbach
- Forensic Psychology Section; Maastricht University; Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - T. Smeets
- Forensic Psychology Section; Maastricht University; Maastricht The Netherlands
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