INTOXICATED WITNESSES TO IPV: The Effects of Alcohol Intoxication and Repeated Interviewing on Perceived Aggression

Abstract

Aims and objectives: Many witnesses law-practitioners deal with are intoxicated, especially witnesses to violent crime such as intimate partner violence. There is little research, however, regarding how alcohol influences witnesses’ perception of aggression and how interview strategy can moderate this influence. This study examined to what extent alcohol intoxication and time of interview affected perceived aggression in an intimate partner violence scenario. Method and data: One hundred and thirty-five (n = 135) participants were randomly allocated into one of three groups based on blood alcohol content (BAC); a non-alcohol group, a moderate alcohol group (BAC = 0,04 – 0,08) or a high alcohol group (BAC = 0,08 – 0,15). Participants consumed drinks either containing juice and vodka or only juice in a laboratory setting after which they witnessed a film depicting a staged IPV scenario. The interview condition was operationalized by interviewing fifty percent of the participants twice; once in direct association to the film and again one week later. The other fifty percent were only interviewed after a one-week delay. Results: Results indicated that during the direct interview, moderately intoxicated witnesses rated neutral demeanor in the film as more hostile and physical aggression as less severe compared to sober witnesses. During the repeated interview, the ratings of intoxicated and sober witnesses did not differ. Highly intoxicated participants did not differ from the sober during the direct interview but suffered memory loss during the delayed interview and rated aggression as less severe. The repeated interview resulted in a more stable aggression assessment than the delayed, highlighting the import of repeated interviewing for intoxicated witnesses. Criminological relevance and future research are discussed.