Recall vs recognition
It's far easier to recognize a face than to try and describe one. Think about someone you know. How would you describe
that person ? What if I told you we were looking for a white male, late 40s to early 60's, mustache and goatee, wrinkles, short hair, oval face, average nose, thinner lips (remember most witnesses only remember 4-5 facial features)...could you picture him? Pick him out of this line up?
It's far easier to recognize a face than to try and describe one. Think about someone you know. How would you describe
that person ? What if I told you we were looking for a white male, late 40s to early 60's, mustache and goatee, wrinkles, short hair, oval face, average nose, thinner lips (remember most witnesses only remember 4-5 facial features)...could you picture him? Pick him out of this line up?
From an article in the London Daily Mail
