The weapon focus effect in child eyewitnesses

Abstract

The present study investigated whether children would exhibit the weapon focus effect that has been demonstrated with adult eyewitnesses. Participants (4- and 5-year-olds, 7- and 8-year-olds, and adults) watched a videotape in which a target individual portraying one of two schema roles and holding either a weapon or a neutral object steals some money. Witnesses of all ages described the target's physical appearance less accurately if the target held an object that was inconsistent rather than consistent with his schema role. Additionally, there were age effects for both accuracy and amount of information reported. The results indicate that the weapon focus effect generalizes to child witnesses and that it probably occurs because weapons are inconsistent with an activated schema.

Keywords:

• Eyewitness memory
• weapon focus effect
• child witnesses

Acknowledgements

For their help with this project, we thank Ed Baruch, Sam Day, Nathan Dumford, Laura Hammer, Ty Henkaline, Andrea Marsh, Laura O'Hara, Erin Piekut, Steve Poweska, Adam Reichle, Heather Ryan, and Laura Weber. This research was supported by the Joseph W. and Marcella S. Hollis Fund. Tom Lenhardt is now at the University of St Thomas.