The role of emotions in the trust-accuracy relationship during the testimony

Abstract

;Emotions interfere with the recall of major events, affecting the trust-accuracy relationship during the testimony. The impact of emotions after the participants see images of real traffic accident was assessed, as well its influence on posterior recall, trying to verify how they interfere with the trust-accuracy relationship. The sample consisted of 150 participants with driving experience who voluntary fulfilled questionnaires on their emotional impact and details related with the images shown. The results demonstrated the absence of relationship between trust and accuracy in testimony, as the participants accepted with identical belief both true and false information. Emotions do not relate with trust, although emotions such as disgust, contempt and sadness presented a negative correlation with accuracy. The data obtained can be useful in the forensic context.

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