This study makes the psychological case against the reliability of the eyewitness. By shedding light on the many factors that can intervene and create inaccurate testimony, Elizabeth Loftus illustrates how memory can be radically altered by the way an eyewitness is questioned, and how new memories can be implanted and old ones changed in subtle ways. "Eyewitness Testimony" provides a counterpoint to today's theatrical reliance on eyewitnesss accounts in the media and should be required reading for trial lawyers, psychologists, jurors, and anyone who considers the prospect of confronting an eyewitness accusation in a court of law.

Table of Contents

1. Mistaken Identification 2. Impact of Eyewitness Testimony 3. Perceiving Events 4. Retaining Information in Memory 5. Retrieving Information from Memory 6. Theoretical Issues in the Study of Memory 7. Recognizing People 8. Individual Differences in Eyewitness Ability 9. Common Beliefs about Eyewitness Accounts 10. The Eyewitness and the Legal System 11. An Actual Case of Murder: People v. Garcia Appendix References Index

About the Author

Elizabeth F. Loftus is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology and Social Behavior at the Univesrity of California, Irvine.

Reviews

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