The Intersection of Psychology and Law: Understanding Eyewitness Testimony

Elizabeth Loftus, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, discusses the intersection of psychology and law, focusing on how faulty human memory can lead to wrongful convictions. She highlights the significant role of eyewitness testimony in courtrooms and the misconceptions surrounding memory reliability. Loftus emphasizes the need for expert testimony to educate juries and judges about the true nature of memory, as many wrongful convictions have been attributed to errors in human memory.

What is the primary focus of Elizabeth Loftus's work at the University of California, Irvine?

• The study of child development

• The analysis of economic policies

• The development of new psychological therapies

• The intersection of psychology and law

What has DNA testing revealed about many wrongful convictions?

• They were due to technological errors

• They were influenced by media coverage

• They were caused by faulty human memory

• They were the result of biased juries

What percentage of wrongful convictions discussed by Loftus were due to faulty memory?

• Close to 3/4

• About 50%

• Less than 10%

• Nearly 90%

What is a common misconception about eyewitness testimony in court?

• Confident and detailed testimonies are always accurate

• It is rarely used in court cases

• It is more reliable than physical evidence

• It is always unreliable

Why do some lawyers seek expert testimony in court cases involving eyewitnesses?

• To educate the jury about memory

• To delay the trial process

• To provide an alternative narrative

• To discredit the eyewitness