Final answer:
Eyewitness accounts can be influenced by the suggestibility of witnesses, conditioned by exposure to leading questions or external information, and the language used during interviews, which can shape or distort memory recall.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two potential factors that could influence eyewitness accounts are the suggestibility of witnesses and the specific language used in questioning. The suggestibility of a witness refers to their susceptibility to having their memory influenced by external information or the manner in which they are questioned, leading to the formation of false memories. As demonstrated by Loftus's research, using different verbs like 'smashed' or 'hit' can alter a witness's perception of an event such as a car accident, indicating that leading language in questioning can significantly affect memory recall. Furthermore, studies have shown that when interviewers use neutral language, children remember events more accurately. Judges are also now more cautious, instructing jurors on the chances for misidentification and suppressing unreliable eyewitness testimony.