Research article summary (published 13 Oct 2007):

"With a little help from my friends...": the role of co-witness relationship in susceptibility to misinformation.

Full Abstract

Inaccuracies in eyewitness accounts can occur when witnesses are exposed to post-event misinformation via discussion with a co-witness. The current study examined the role of co-witness relationship by comparing the memory performance of pairs of romantic couples, friends and previously unacquainted strangers with that of individuals. Ninety-six participants viewed an event and then discussed the witnessed event with a stranger, a romantic partner or a friend. One member of each pair saw a theft take place during the witnessed event. Individual group participants did not discuss the witnessed event with anyone. Results indicate that all co-witness dyads produced less accurate recall accounts than participants who did not interact with another witness. However, witnesses who were previously acquainted with their co-witness (either in a friendship or romantic relationship) were significantly more likely to report information obtained from their co-witness that they had not seen themselves. Prior acquaintance also led to an increased number of incorrect attributions of both guilt and innocence.

Author information

Author/s: Hope, Lorraine (L); Ost, James (J); Gabbert, Fiona (F); Healey, Sarah (S); Lenton, Emma (E);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, UK. lorraine.hope(-atsign-)port.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Acta psychologica (Acta Psychol (Amst)), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Feb; vol 127 (issue 2) : pp 476-84

Dates: Created 2008/01/21; Completed 2008/04/11;

PMID: 17937922, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Adult Cognition - physiology Communication Family Characteristics Female Friends - psychology Humans

Interpersonal Relations Male Mental Recall - physiology Middle Aged Social Behavior Students - psychology Suggestion Theft - psychology

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