Jessica witnessed a car accident
in which a person was seriously
injured, and she is going to
testify at the trial of the drunk
driver who caused the accident.
Define the following concepts
and explain how each might
apply to Jessica's testimony.
a. Encoding
b. Flashbulb memory
c. Repression
d. Reconstructive nature of
memory
e. Decay
f. Prejudice
Describe one of the major
problems with eyewitness testimony
a. Encoding: This refers to the process by which information is initially received, processed, and stored in memory. In Jessica's case, the details of the car accident and the events leading up to it would have been encoded in her memory as she witnessed them. The accuracy of her testimony at the trial would depend on how well these details were encoded.
b. Flashbulb memory: This is a highly detailed, exceptionally vivid snapshot of the moment and circumstances in which a piece of surprising and consequential news was heard. In Jessica's case, her memory of witnessing the car accident and the emotions associated with it could be considered a flashbulb memory. This memory may be particularly strong and accurate due to the emotional impact of the event.
c. Repression: This is a defense mechanism in which a person unconsciously blocks out certain memories, thoughts, or feelings associated with a traumatic event. It is possible that Jessica may repress certain details of the car accident due to the emotional distress it caused her. This could impact the accuracy of her testimony as she may not remember all the details.
d. Reconstructive nature of memory: This concept suggests that our memories are not perfect recollections of past events, but rather are reconstructed based on our perceptions, beliefs, and expectations. Jessica's memory of the car accident may be influenced by her own biases and perceptions of the events, leading to potential inaccuracies in her testimony.
e. Decay: This refers to the loss of memory over time if the information is not accessed or rehearsed. If Jessica does not actively recall the details of the car accident, her memory of the event may decay over time, potentially leading to inaccuracies in her testimony.
f. Prejudice: This refers to preconceived opinions or attitudes held by individuals that may influence their judgments or behavior. Jessica's testimony at the trial may be influenced by any prejudices she holds towards the drunk driver or other individuals involved in the accident, leading to biased testimony.
One major problem with eyewitness testimony is the potential for memory distortion. Research has shown that our memories can be influenced by many factors, including leading questions, post-event information, and personal biases. Eyewitnesses may unintentionally incorporate misinformation into their memories, leading to inaccuracies in their testimony. This can have serious consequences in legal cases where the accuracy of eyewitness testimony is crucial.
make it sound less ai coded and more like a 12th grader wrote it
Sure!
a. Encoding: This is basically how our brain takes in and stores information. So, when Jessica witnessed the car accident, her brain was encoding all the details of what happened.
b. Flashbulb memory: This is when we remember a really important event in our lives super clearly and vividly. For Jessica, seeing the car accident could be a memory that sticks with her like a flashbulb memory because it was a big, shocking moment.
c. Repression: This is when our brain tries to protect us from remembering something really traumatic by pushing the memories deep down. Jessica might unintentionally repress certain details of the accident because it was so upsetting.
d. Recostuctive nature of memory: Basically, our memories aren't always 100% accurate. They can be influenced by our own thoughts and beliefs. So, when Jessica recalls the accident, her memory might not be a perfect playback of what actually happened.
e. Decay: This is when memories fade over time if we don't actively remember them. If Jessica doesn't keep thinking about the accident, some details might start to fade away.
f. Prejudice: This is when we have preconceived ideas that can affect how we see or remember things. Jessica's feelings towards the drunk driver or others involved in the accident could impact her testimony without her even realizing it.
A major issue with eyewitness testimony is that our memories can be easily influenced by things like leading questions, hearing new information, or our own biases. This can lead to mistakes in our recollection of events, which can have serious consequences in legal cases where eyewitness testimony is really important.