I will never forget sixth grade picture day. That was the day a man in a powder-blue van approached me and attempted to lure me into his vehicle on my way home from school. Fortunately an impatient motorist honked him along, I was close to home, and I had had the wherewithal to remain at a distance. Upon arriving home, I discussed the incident with my mother and we'd soon arrive at the police station. There I was handed four binders filled with photographs of men. I was asked to attempt a reconstruction of the man's face through identifying parts of the whole. Pick a nose, eyes, chin, ears, hairstyle. Find the pieces of this puzzle and then we'll draw him. For this entry I did contact the police department's records division to see if I could obtain my sketch, but the message was never returned. I remember feeling so overwhelmed by the process of trying to construct this man's image. I ultimately chose anything so that I could escape this awkward scrutiny.Considering my own experience I began to wonder, was this my response because I was a child? Or is it common for people to find this type of image construction hindering their feelings of "duty" in identifying a suspect.
I found some images which compare peoples composite sketches to their mug shots. It appears from the three selected comparisons that these composites are not very accurate. Looking further it seems certain features are harder for us to recall. General face shape seems fairly consistent. Also noses tend to be slightly different, but still close. Particularly in the first two pairings. Eyes shape seems especially difficult, in the first and last pairings the eyes and brow shape are completely off. In the center pairing the eye-brow shape is done well, but the eyes are a touch too large. Lips seem difficult as well. There is no pattern in the composites, the first the length and thickness of lips is off, the second is actually quite accurate, and the third are far too large.
In my experience I would say it is intimidation that makes it so difficult to recapture someone's image. The police station and all of the fall-out from the incident was more stressful for an eleven-year-old. I had to sit and ponder this mans face several times longer than I actually got to look at it. I think for the average person this is simply not feasible. Although I do not know how effective these sketches are or are not. I do know the person who approached me was never spotted via my sketch.
I found some images which compare peoples composite sketches to their mug shots. It appears from the three selected comparisons that these composites are not very accurate. Looking further it seems certain features are harder for us to recall. General face shape seems fairly consistent. Also noses tend to be slightly different, but still close. Particularly in the first two pairings. Eyes shape seems especially difficult, in the first and last pairings the eyes and brow shape are completely off. In the center pairing the eye-brow shape is done well, but the eyes are a touch too large. Lips seem difficult as well. There is no pattern in the composites, the first the length and thickness of lips is off, the second is actually quite accurate, and the third are far too large.
In my experience I would say it is intimidation that makes it so difficult to recapture someone's image. The police station and all of the fall-out from the incident was more stressful for an eleven-year-old. I had to sit and ponder this mans face several times longer than I actually got to look at it. I think for the average person this is simply not feasible. Although I do not know how effective these sketches are or are not. I do know the person who approached me was never spotted via my sketch.