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The perceived credibility of older adults as witnesses and its relation to ageism
Author(s) -
MuellerJohnson Katrin,
Toglia Michael P.,
Sweeney Charlotte D.,
Ceci Stephen J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.765
Subject(s) - witness , psychology , honesty , credibility , competence (human resources) , social psychology , suggestibility , cheating , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , computer science , political science , law , programming language
In experiment 1, 267 undergraduates read a case summary and witness statement. Sex and age of the witness (49, 69, 79 or 89 years) were varied. Participants rated the witness's perceived convincingness, confidence, quality of observation, accuracy, honesty, competence, memory, suggestibility, and cognitive functioning. As well as an age effect for honesty, age by sex interactions were observed for several characteristics, particularly for comparisons of the 79‐year‐olds versus the 49‐year‐olds, and 89‐year‐olds versus the 49‐year‐olds. In experiment 2, 94 undergraduates read the same testimony given by a 79‐year‐old male or female witness, and completed the Fraboni Scale of Ageism and the Aging Semantic Differential. Participants who evidenced stronger aging stereotypes on these measures rated the witness less favorably than did participants who were less prejudiced. This experiment is the first to show a link between perceived credibility of older adults and ageist attitudes. Practical applications regarding how older witnesses are viewed by jurors, and the criminal justice system more generally, are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.