Prior research suggests that the presence of a weapon can be detrimental to eyewitness memory, a phenomenon known as the Weapon Focus Effect. Several theories have been proposed as an explanation of the Weapon Focus Effect however, few studies have explored the impact of race and perpetrator size. Even fewer studies have utilised eye tracking technology to explore this relationship. It was hypothesised that holding negative racial attitudes will attenuate the Weapon Focus Effect for the Black perpetrator, measured by fixations and a correct identification in a lineup. This effect was also hypothesised to occur in the presence of multiple perpetrators, of opposing races, regardless if the Black perpetrator was holding a weapon. A sample of 60 participants completed an eye tracking task followed by online questionnaires. The study involved simulated mock-crime videos, measures for racial attitudes, measures for confidence, and target-present and target-absent lineups. For eye tracking, a data-driven method for analysing dynamic stimuli was used. Multinomial logistic regressions and calibration analyses were conducted. A standard Weapon Focus Effect was observed for the White male with Black stereotypes weakening the Weapon Focus Effect for the Black male. This was consistent across conditions pertaining multiple perpetrators. Future research should investigate the strength of racial stereotypes on the Weapon Focus Effect across retention periods. Theoretical and legal implications are discussed.
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