A state of high anxiety: how non‐supportive interviewers can increase the suggestibility of child witnesses

Abstract

The present study examined the effects of state and trait anxiety on 8-11 years old children's susceptibility to misleading post-event information. Participants' state and trait anxiety were measured, after which they watched an extract from a children's movie. They were then individually interviewed using either a supportive or a non-supportive style. During the interviews, the children were asked 14 questions about the movie, seven of which were control and seven contained misleading information. After the interview, their state anxiety was measured again. Results showed that participants interviewed in a non-supportive style were more likely to provide incorrect answers to misleading questions. Furthermore, participants who scored highly on both trait and post-interview state anxiety measures more often responded incorrectly to misleading questions. Also, pre-to post-interview changes in state anxiety were correlated with more incorrect responses to misleading questions.

Remembering remotely: would video-mediation impair witnesses' memory reports?

“…Some studies show that witnesses who are comfortable or less anxious report more correct information, and are less susceptible to misinformation (e.g., Almerigogna, Ost, Bull, & Akehurst, 2007;Vallano & Schreiber Compo, 2011), and so plausible advantages such as these call for further inquiry.…”

Practitioner perspectives on rapport building during child investigative interviews

“…Support has been found to reduce children's anxiety and increase their resistance to post-event misinformation (e.g. Almerigogna et al, 2007). However, although social support and rapport are related, they are not the same psychological construct.…”

“…The rapport phase is used to scaffold children's communicative approach to the interview (e.g. through open questions or sometimes through practice recall, see Hershkowitz, 2011; and is assumed to reduce their anxiety through social support (Almerigogna, Ost, Bull, & Akehurst, 2007).…”

Understanding rapport-building in investigative interviews: Does rapport's effect on witness memory and suggestibility depend on the interviewer?

“…A considerable amount of research has examined the effects of rapport-building on child witness recall within an investigative interview (e.g., Almerigogna, Ost, Bull & Akehurst, 2007;Carter, Bottoms & Levine, 1996;Davis & Bottoms, 2002;Hershkowitz, 2011). This research generally supports the notion that a comfortable environment increases child witness recall accuracy and reduces susceptibility to misinformation.…”