Eyewitness Memory

Face recognition

Question 1:

Imagine that eyewitnesses to a crime are asked questions about the perpetrator’s face they saw. The investigators don't have a suspect, so they need to figure out what the perpetrator looks like. Traditionally, the eyewitness account for how the face looked like is obtained with the following methods: 

· Verbally describing the face to a forensic artist who sketches it

· Constructing a facial composite by selecting individual facial features (feature-based composite system)

· The sketch or composite is then used for recognition (for other witnesses/the public)

Knowing how faces are processed, analyze these methods. Discuss why you think they are good methods, or why you think they might distort facial recognition memory.

Answer: (4-5 sentences)

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Question 2:

Knowing how faces are processed, what would be an ideal way to test facial memory? What kinds of questions about the face should be asked to maximize the chances of an accurate facial recognition memory, and why? 

For help with this assignment, consider the following questions: when we recognize faces, what kind of information is important to us to know about the face? What do we pay attention to on a face?

Answer: (4-5 sentences)

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