PSYC1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 33: Fingerprint, Elizabeth Loftus, Eyewitness Memory
2 Jul 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
24/05/2018 Introduction to Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychology – application of psychological knowledge and theories to all aspects of
the criminal and civil justice systems, including the processes and the people
Earliest research investigated eyewitness memory – James Cattell (1895) asked people to
recall things they witnessed in their everyday life (e.g. in which direction do apple seeds
point?)
Alfred Binet (1900) showed children objects and then asked them questions about the
object. Found that highly misleading questions resulted in poor accuracy
Aussage (testimony) period of eyewitness research (1900 – WWI)
- some researchers conducted “reality experiments” with staged events
Varendonck (1911) - called to be an expert witness in a case involving the murder of a young
girl; staged an event at school and tested memory for event; concluded that children’s
memories are inaccurate and suggestible
Hugo von Munsterberg – called into question legal assertions that eyewitness memory is
necessarily accurate
Robert Buckhout wanted to change legal system – “nearly 2000 witnesses can be wrong”
Elizabeth Loftus studied malleability of memory – post event misinformation paradigm
Functions of expert witness
oAid in understanding an issue relevant to the case
oProvide an opinion (they can speculate and provide an opinion in comparison to
regular witnesses who can only testify about what they directly observed)
oEither side can ask judge to permit expert witnesses
oExpert witnesses may be clinical psychologists or forensic psychologists
Challenges of Providing Expert Testimony
oThe legal systems criticisms of psychology:
Lack of ecological validity of psychological research
Psychologists may become advocates and lose their objectivity
Psychology can intrude upon the legitimate activities of the legal system
Admissibility criteria
oExperts must satisfy judge that they know the topic and the case history
oJust because an expert is well qualified does not mean they are helpful to the jury –
but there is a danger that jury will think so and pay too much attention
o“Surely it is only arrogance and foolhardiness for the law to close its eye to
knowledge and understanding which is germane to its decision-making practices”
Expert Evidence: Fingerprints
oFingerprint evidence is analysed by humans
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Forensic psychology application of psychological knowledge and theories to all aspects of the criminal and civil justice systems, including the processes and the people. Earliest research investigated eyewitness memory james cattell (1895) asked people to recall things they witnessed in their everyday life (e. g. in which direction do apple seeds point?) Alfred binet (1900) showed children objects and then asked them questions about the object. Found that highly misleading questions resulted in poor accuracy. Aussage (testimony) period of eyewitness research (1900 wwi) Some researchers conducted reality experiments with staged events. Varendonck (1911) - called to be an expert witness in a case involving the murder of a young girl; staged an event at school and tested memory for event; concluded that children"s memories are inaccurate and suggestible. Hugo von munsterberg called into question legal assertions that eyewitness memory is necessarily accurate. Robert buckhout wanted to change legal system nearly 2000 witnesses can be wrong .
