First impressions in familiar eyewitness identifications improve accuracy in target absent lineups

Abstract

There is evidence in the literature suggesting first impressions, though resilient, can be swayed by additional information (Baker, ten Brinke, & Porter, 2013). The purpose of this research is to investigate whether first impressions influence decisions when the target is familiar to the eyewitness, when utilizing a target-absent identification line-up. Results showed that participants in familiar conditions who received information had higher accuracy rates in comparison to individuals who received no information when making a decision. It was also found that confidence significantly fell in familiar conditions when the participant misidentified. Implications suggest the first impressions the eyewitness has does not impact the accuracy outcomes, but rather any past knowledge about the familiar individual may improve target-absent lineup accuracy. There may be some flexibility when it comes to confidence ratings, seeing a decline in a confidence rating, may allow investigators to assess accuracy in a familiar suspect situation.