NCJ Number
116637
Date Published
1989
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This analysis of research on the main aspects of perception and cognition that may affect an observer emphasizes its relevance to the issue of eyewitness testimony.
Abstract
During recent decades the field of social perception has focused on the perceptual changes that take place under the influence of motives and needs and has increasingly treated the individual more or less as an active processor of information. Thus, as Bruner notes, social perception is regarded as a process of active construction or reconstruction of social reality by the observer. Hence, the process of social perception starts before an event occurs. In addition, the observer's perceptions and processing of information may be affected by such factors as the social or occupational role of the person observed, physical surroundings, the sequence of events, and similar events the observer has seen. Although under normal circumstances observers try to avoid errors and biases in their perceptions and judgements, eyewitness testimonies are communicated perceptions under extraordinary conditions. In addition, the kind of questions asked will substantially determine the witness's answers. Research recommendations and 68 references.