Eyewitness Testimony: With a new preface by the author (Paperback)

by Elizabeth F. Loftus (Author)
Key Phrases: guilt tape, temporary biases, filler activity, Supreme Court, United States, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
An important book about a critical question. (New York Times Book Review )

Loftus is a quiet, sincere, and reliable guide to this important research and its applications. (Times Higher Education Supplement )

Product Description

Every year hundreds of defendants are convicted on little more than the say-so of a fellow citizen. Although psychologists have suspected for decades that an eyewitness can be highly unreliable, new evidence leaves no doubt that juries vastly overestimate the credibility of eyewitness accounts. It is a problem that the courts have yet to solve or face squarely.

In Eyewitness Testimony, Elizabeth Loftus makes the psychological case against the eyewitness. Beginning with the basics of eyewitness fallibility, such as poor viewing conditions, brief exposure, and stress, Loftus moves to more subtle factors, such as expectations, biases, and personal stereotypes, all of which can intervene to create erroneous reports. Loftus also shows that eyewitness memory is chronically inaccurate in surprising ways. An ingenious series of experiments reveals that memory can be radically altered by the way an eyewitness is questioned after the fact. New memories can be implanted and old ones unconsciously altered under interrogation.

These results have important implications for court reform, police interrogation methods, defense strategy, and many other aspects of criminal and civil procedure. Eyewitness Testimony is a powerful book that should be required reading for trial lawyers, social psychologists, and anyone who considers the chilling prospect of confronting an eyewitness accusation in a court of law.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (February 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674287770
• ISBN-13: 978-0674287778
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #358,371 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #14 in	Books > Nonfiction > Law > Procedures & Litigation > Witnesses
  #14 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Law > Procedures & Litigation > Witnesses
  #63 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > By Topic > Memory

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Save your money; buy the new book, August 7, 2007

By	Wisdom Seeker (Colorado Springs) - See all my reviews

Loftus has written tons of new material since her original book. To market old information at a bargain price just because her latest book is so expensive and hard to get doesn't serve the consumer. But it was my fault for falling into the trap. I didn't understand at the time of my order how much more information is now available.

21 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a psych/law bible!, July 7, 1998

By A Customer

Loftus's book is an excellent source for any memory and law questions that may arise. It is also extremely interesting for those who are new to the field. She talks all about mistaken identification due to eyewitness identification evidence. She is most definetly THE LEADING EXPERT in the field.

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OK, April 13, 2008

By	Marce (England) - See all my reviews

The book arrived very late, well after the estimated arrival. The condition was as described.