The acute effect of alcohol on memory: When is the best time to interview alcohol intoxicated eyewitnesses?

Hagsand, Angelica,1985Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Psykologiska institutionen,Department of Psychology (author)

Introduction. Many violent crimes involve alcohol intoxicated eyewitnesses, but there are only a few studies on how alcohol affects eyewitness memory. Aim. Do eyewitnesses recall more (and more accurate) details if they are interviewed when being intoxicated immediately after a crime or at a delayed recall in a sober state when more time has passed? Methods. The participants (N = 100) were randomly assigned to a 2 (Beverage: control, 0.0 g/kg vs. alcohol, 0.7 g/kg) x 2 (Recall trial: immediate and delayed vs. delayed only) mixed design. After a 15 minutes consumption time, a staged kidnapping on film was shown. Half of the participants (N = 48) were interviewed immediately and all (N = 99) had a one week delayed recall. Results. Intoxicated eyewitnesses were less accurate than sober witnesses. Alcohol did not affect the amount of reported information. Eyewitnesses, regardless of intoxication level, remembered more and were more accurate at the immediate recall, than eyewitnesses who did only have a delayed recall. Conclusions. This study shows the importance of conducting an immediate interview, even when the witnesses are intoxicated with a low to moderate blood alcohol concentration.

Roos Af Hjelmsäter, Emma,1976Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Psykologiska institutionen,Department of Psychology(Swepub:gu)xroose (author)
Granhag, Pär-Anders,1964Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Psykologiska institutionen,Department of Psychology(Swepub:gu)xgrapa (author)
Fahlke, Claudia,1964Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Psykologiska institutionen,Department of Psychology(Swepub:gu)xfahcl (author)
Söderpalm Gordh, Anna,1971Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för neurovetenskap och fysiologi, sektionen för psykiatri och neurokemi,Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry(Swepub:gu)xsodea (author)
Göteborgs universitetPsykologiska institutionen (creator_code:org_t)

In:Poster presenterad på Svenska Föreningen för Alkohol och Droger (SAD), 2013-11-21, Uppsala, Sverige.

By the author/editor: Hagsand, Angelic ...; Roos Af Hjelmsät ...; Granhag, Pär-And ...; Fahlke, Claudia, ...; Söderpalm Gordh, ...

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