The effect of movies on the appearance of children as witnesses in German courts is particularly noticeable. Children, juveniles, and adults were asked by Petra Wolf what they knew about courts. The source of information they most often mentioned was movies, especially American crime movies and courtroom dramas. A group of psychologists from Kiel who published a book for the preparation of children as witnesses found out that, even after seeing pictures of a German courtroom, children still believed that the judge would have a gavel or at least wear a wig. 3 In the new edition, the authors explain to children that there will be no gavel or wig, both.
