ABSTRACT

Eyewitness identification is fallible, and suggestive post-event information is known to facilitate error; however, whether social media valence affects identification decisions is unknown. After viewing crime videos of various race perpetrators, participants saw post-event Twitter photos of the perpetrator or a foil that varied in valence. Participants attempted identification from a lineup including both individuals and rated the confidence and source (i.e., video, Twitter) of their selection. Results showed that Twitter photos of the perpetrator increased the likelihood of accurate identification and related confidence, whereas seeing the foil reduced the likelihood of a correct identification and related confidence. Remembering the perpetrator from the crime influenced correct identification, while remembering other incorrect sources (e.g., Twitter) only lead to misidentification. Twitter valence and perpetrator race did not impact outcomes. Results suggest that difficulty in identifying a perpetrator is underpinned by source monitoring confusion which is exacerbated by viewing social media that includes innocent suspects.

摘要

目击者的身份识别容易出错，并且已知暗示性的事后信息容易出错；然而，社交媒体效价是否会影响识别决策尚不清楚。在观看了各种种族肇事者的犯罪视频后，参与者看到了肇事者的赛后推特照片或不同效价的陪衬。参与者尝试从包括个人在内的阵容中进行识别，并对他们选择的信心和来源（即视频、Twitter）进行评分。结果表明，犯罪者的推特照片增加了准确识别和相关信心的可能性，而看到箔片降低了正确识别的可能性和相关信心。从犯罪中记住肇事者会影响正确识别，同时记住其他不正确的来源（例如，Twitter) 只会导致误认。Twitter 效价和肇事者种族并没有影响结果。结果表明，难以识别肇事者的原因是来源监控混乱，查看包括无辜嫌疑人在内的社交媒体会加剧这种混乱。