The role of control in a tragic accident : does degree of control that bystander eyewitness have affects accuracy of eyewitness memory?

Abstract

Eyewitnesses' testimonies differ in content as people perceive and encode the same event differently depending on the role played during the event. The type of information perceived by the eyewitness may depend on his or her role during the occurrence of the tragedy. This study examines whether having control before and during the occurrence of the mishap will have an impact on the number and type of details recalled. Results revealed that passive bystander witnesses were better able to recall more central and peripheral details as compared to witnesses who had some degree of control when the accident occurred. The implications of the results of this study are discussed.