Accuracy of memory of male and female eyewitnesses to a criminal assault and rape

Abstract

Male and female subjects observed a slide presentation of a sexual assault and implied rape. Following recall and identification tests, subjects completed an attitudes-toward-rape questionnaire. No differences were found in free recall, interrogatory recall for details of the crime, and identifications of either the suspect or victim by males and females. Similarly, no differences were found in memory between subjects categorized as strong or weak in antirape attitudes. Females made more false negative identifications of the suspect. That is, women more frequently reported that the suspect was not in the lineup when in fact he was. Males and subjects holding strong antirape attitudes were reliably more certain in their identification of the suspect and victim. However, certainty of identification was not related to accuracy of identification. © 1983, The psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.