Being a good witness: The roles of benevolence and working memory capacity in rapport’s effect on eyewitness memory

Abstract

AbstractPrior studies suggest that building rapport with eyewitnesses can produce measurable recall improvements, but the underlying mechanisms of rapport’s possible effects on recall remain underexplored. The present study investigated two possible mechanisms for rapport’s impact: (1) improved working memory capacity and (2) increased benevolence. Participants (N = 105) viewed a mock theft video, followed by one of two possible pre‐interview interactions: rapport‐building or a control interaction. Next, participants completed measures of working memory, altruism, and benevolence (pre‐interview and post‐interview), before recalling details of the theft. Analyses revealed that, when controlling for the effects of the interaction duration and participants’ pre‐ and post‐interview benevolence, rapport did not affect eyewitness recall directly. However, rapport building did increase benevolence measured after and associated with the substantive eyewitness interview, which in turn predicted more accurate and new details reported, and fewer subjective/other details reported. These findings support benevolence toward the interviewer as a mechanism behind rapport’s effect on eyewitness recall. Implications for investigative interviews in relation to benevolence and motivating reciprocation are discussed.