- in Education , Professional , WYE Podcast
Are Eyewitnesses or Confessions Infallible or Reliable?
In a TED talk in Scotland, Elizabeth Loftus shares some of her research about memory, explaining how a man was accused and convicted of rape despite no evidence other than the victim saying initially “He looks the most like the guy.” Trouble is, come trial and the victim is 100% sure it was a man who didn’t commit the crime. He is convicted and spends a year in prison before the true assailant is found by a journalist, not Police. How can that be?
Well, it turns out, humans aren’t very good at recollecting things AS THEY HAPPENED. Loftus goes on to explain how memory is more like Wikipedia, in that it can be changed and influenced from both inside and out. Have a look:
On the heels of this revelation about the brain, we also discuss the writings and research of Dr Saul Kassin and his amazing data about false confessions and why so many people, including jurys, believe them over anything else.
It really makes you wonder what can be trusted, if anything at all.
This week we cover:
- Research that shows memory is more like Wikipedia
- Examples of when witnesses were entirely wrong, yet convinced they were correct
- That PD can lie all they want during interviews
- Sometimes getting the case moving on isn’t worth an innocent life
BOLO
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