Weapon focus (forensic psychology)

Weapon focus refers to an individual, often the victim or eyewitness of a violent crime, concentrating on a perpetrator’s weapon rather than on the perpetrator. Weapon focus causes an eyewitness to a crime to be unable to recall key details such as the perpetrator’s face, clothing, and vehicle. While the weapon that holds the witness’s attention is most often a gun, other weapons such as a knife, a syringe, or an explosive device can cause the effect to occur. Researchers who have studied weapon focus have determined that witnesses remembered more about a crime if a perpetrator did not have a weapon and less about a crime if the perpetrator had a weapon. Weapon focus studies in the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries do not show participants a real weapon due to ethical concerns and are largely conducted by having participants watch videos. Despite evidence supporting the existence of weapon focus, it is not recognized by the legal system. Even though an eyewitness’s memory of a crime may be impaired because of weapon focus, juries are asked to consider it to be accurate.

Background

One of the earliest studies of weapon focus, which falls into the field of forensic psychology, was conducted in 1976 by researchers Johnson and Scott. They divided participants into two groups and asked each to sit in a reception area at a specified time. Those in the first group, the control group, overheard a conversation between two individuals in a laboratory next door. Afterward, a man exited the laboratory holding a pen while his hands were covered in grease. When the second group sat in the reception area, they overheard a violent argument between two individuals along with breaking glass and crashing chairs. Then, a man ran into the reception area holding a bloody knife. Both groups were shown fifty photographs and asked to identify the man who had left the laboratory. Those who saw the man holding the pen correctly identified him 49 percent of the time while those who saw the man holding the knife could identify him only 33 percent of the time.

Because of ethical issues, subsequent studies of weapon focus have had participants watch videos. In 1987, researchers Loftus, Loftus, and Messo had one group of participants watch a video in which a young man approached a counter in a fast-food restaurant and handed the cashier a check. The second group saw the same video except the young man pointed a gun at the cashier. Participants in the weapons group focused on the gun more than on the young man. Those in the first group who saw the man hand the cashier a check were able to recall more details about the young man than those who saw him pull out the gun.

Overview

Some social psychologists challenge the results of weapon focus experiments, claiming that the effect is limited to participants in a laboratory, where an experiment takes place. These psychologists have examined actual crime reports and found little evidence of weapon focus. However, some evidence does exist. In 2007, when a woman in Texas was stopped for gas, an unknown man pulled a gun on her and demanded her purse. The woman later reported being terrified of the gun and was able to describe it in great detail. Her description of the man, however, was vague. Experts attributed this to weapon focus.

Social psychologists in the twenty-first century are uncertain why weapon focus occurs, although many have theories. One such theory is that at the sight of the weapon, the eyewitness experiences a high degree of anxiety and can only focus on central cues, such as a weapon. However, weapon focus sometimes occurs when eyewitnesses report experiencing little if any anxiety. Another theory is that an individual holding a weapon in most settings is unusual, so eyewitnesses focus on it. A person who sees someone holding a gun at a shooting range is unlikely to experience weapon focus.

Researchers point out that any out-of-place occurrence can cause weapon focus, such as a person in a shopping mall holding a large stuffed animal. Researchers refer to this as an “unusual item hypothesis.” It was observed in Toronto in 1997 when a man walked into a coffee shop and threatened to kill his hostage unless someone gave him money. His “hostage” was a Canada goose, which he threatened to choke. When he was given money, he released the goose and fled. Because the situation was so unusual, the people in the coffee shop could not recall details about the perpetrator because they were focused on the goose.

Despite evidence and theories supporting weapon focus as impairing a witness’s memory, weapon focus is inadmissible in court. Jurors are generally told to focus on what the witness can remember and assume it is accurate. They are not to consider that the presence of a weapon might have impaired a witness’s recollection. In one case in which a Texas woman faced a perpetrator with a gun, the woman could only provide scant details about the perpetrator, such as light eyes, yet a young man was charged with robbery based on her recollections. Researchers assert that memory does not work like a videotape. They are altered by individuals so that it makes the most sense to them. When a witness focuses on a weapon, other details they perceive may be incorrect.

Researchers believe those most likely to witness a crime, such as bank tellers and convenience store clerks, could be taught about weapon focus and may be trained to concentrate on the perpetrator rather than the weapon as the crime unfolds. They conclude that people can overcome the weapon focus effect if trained.

Bibliography

Dixon, Travis. “Key Studies: ‘Weapon Focus’ and Its Effect on Eye-Witness Memories (Loftus, 1987).” IB Psychology, 18 Feb. 2019, www.themantic-education.com/ibpsych/2019/02/18/key-studies-weapon-focus-and-its-effects-on-eye-witness-memories-loftus-1987. Accessed 20 May 2024.

Fawcett, Jonathan M., Kristine A. Peace, and Andrea Greve. “Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun: What Do We Know About the Weapon Focus Effect?” Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, vol. 5, no. 3, 2016, pp. 257–263, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211368116300699. Accessed 20 May 2024.

Loftus, Elizabeth F., Geoffrey R. Loftus, and Jane Messo. “Some Facts About ‘Weapon Focus.’” Law and Human Behavior, vol. 11, no. 1, 1987, pp. 55–62, faculty.washington.edu/gloftus/Downloads/LoftusLoftusMessoWF.pdf. Accessed 20 May 2024.

McLeod, Dr. Saul. “Eyewitness Testimony in Psychology.” Simply Psychology, 15 June 2023, www.simplypsychology.org/eyewitness-testimony.html. Accessed 20 May 2024.

Stebley, Nancy Mehrkens. “A Meta-Analytic Review of the Weapons Focus Effect.” Law and Human Behavior, vol. 16, no. 4, 1992, pp. 413–424. doi.org/10.1007/BF02352267. Accessed 20 May 2024.

“Weapon Focus.” Psychology, psychology.iresearchnet.com/forensic-psychology/eyewitness-memory/weapon-focus. Accessed 20 May 2024.

Willmott, D. “Is It Strange or Is It Scary? Examining Salience and Arousal Explanations of the ‘Weapons Focus Effect.’” Sematic Scholar, 2017, www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Is-it-Strange-or-is-it-Scary-Examining-Salience-and-Willmott/531af6830517d963a3659eb0ea50df34062a299a. Accessed 13 May 2021.