An Unexpected Wait Before Testifying Increases Nervousness in Witnesses

Abstract

During a high anxiety, performance centered activity. such as a legal trial, does the need to wait to testify affect how a witness' presentation is perceived by others? What effect does waiting have when there is little ability to control the length of wait and there is little distraction during the waiting? In a trial, might the witness who is forced to wait an exiended time before testifying react nervously and the adversely affect the initial impression he or she makes upon juror? This study examined through simulation some of the possible outcomes of waiting on a witness' perceived behavior. Two experiments were performed to study the effects of waiting conditions on a witness in relation to the degree of honesty, attractiveness, intelligence and credibility as perceived by those who watched videotapes of the subjects who waited. It was expected that those in the waiting conditions would be more nervous and anxious and also be perceived as less attractive, intelligent and honest and therefore less cre...