Psychology, Law, Lies and False Memories

Psychology, Law, Lies and False Memories gives us insights into eye witness memory problems, false memories, impact of stress and trauma on memory, and includes two wrongful conviction cases. In this course, psychologist Eve Ash talks to Distinguished Professor Elizabeth Loftus, University of California, Irvine, an expert on human memory, psychology and law. Elizabeth has conducted research on the malleability of human memory and has been called upon worldwide to give expert testimony in criminal cases. Eyewitness testimony can cause problems in courts. The more confident a witness, the more they are believed even if their memories are mistaken, such as in the case of Steven Titus (misidentified as a rapist). A US Innocence Project found that in over 300 cases of wrongful conviction, 75% were due to faulty or false memories. The problem is compounded when witnesses are 'coached' or 'encouraged'. False and distorted memories can be 'implanted'.

Learning objectives

• Identify how confident eyewitnesses are often believed even if their memory is mistaken
• Show how over 300 people in the US have been convicted through faulty or false memory
• Examine case studies of wrongful convictions
• Identify flaws resulting from coaching of some witnesses
• Examine how positive feedback can inflate confidence
• Examine how false and distorted memories can be planted in ordinary people
• Illustrate how trauma can interfere with memory
• Examine how false memories can occur

Interactive eLearning course

This video program is also available as a short stimulating eLearning course with interactive learning modules, recap activities, inline video and quiz assessments, designed to engage learners and build skills.