Oscar and Sophia were debating how reliable witnesses are after experiencing a terrifying event.
Oscar: "In a life-threatening situation, the sheer panic and fear make it impossible to remember the suspect's face. Your brain just shuts down or narrows in on the threat itself, like a knife or a gun."
Sophia: "I disagree. When I was caught in an armed bank robbery a few years ago, my heart was pounding, but that intense rush of adrenaline actually made me focus. I still clearly remember the robber's height, voice, and facial features."
Discuss what psychological research has shown about the effects of anxiety on eyewitness testimony. Refer to the conversation between Oscar and Sophia in your answer.
Practise AQA A Level Psychology Eyewitness testimony with exam-style questions for A Level Psychology. 82 questions, matched to the AQA A Level Psychology (7182) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.
