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Chapter 8: Problem 25

Jurors place a lot of weight on eyewitness testimony. Imagine you are an attorney representing a defendant who is accused of robbing a convenience store. Several eyewitnesses have been called to testify against your client. What would you tell the jurors about the reliability of eyewitness testimony?

Short Answer

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To the jurors, emphasize the potential fallibility of eyewitness testimony due to human memory's imperfections and susceptibility to external influences and psychological factors. Encourage jurors to critically assess such testimonies and rely on concrete evidence.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Eyewitness Testimony

Eyewitness testimony is an account given by individuals of an event they have witnessed. It's a crucial aspect in many court cases, however, it heavily relies on an individual’s memory, which can sometimes be faulty. It is essential to emphasize this element to the jury.
02

Discussing the Fallibility of Human Memory

Next, provide an explanation about the fallibility of human memory. Point out that our memories are not perfect recordings of events. Factors such as stress, lighting, obstructions, and time since the event can all impact the accuracy of a memory. Memory can also be influenced by external factors such as media reports and discussions with others about the event.
03

Psychological Research on Eyewitness Testimony

Refer to psychological research that has shown that memory is easily influenced after the event, and details can be unintentionally altered or made up by eyewitnesses. Studies have shown that eyewitness identifications are incorrect about a third of the time, which is a significant margin of error in a matter as serious as a criminal proceeding.
04

Presenting the Case

In arguing your case, you would conclude by telling the jurors that while the eyewitness testimonies appear compelling, they should be critically examined because they may contain inaccuracies. Advise them to consider other solid evidence like video, fingerprints, DNA, etc., before making their decision.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

You and your roommate spent all of last night studying for your psychology test. You think you know the material; however, you suggest that you study again the next morning an hour prior to the test. Your roommate asks you to explain why you think this is a good idea. What do you tell her?

When you are learning how to play the piano, the statement "Every good boy does fine" can help you remember the notes \(\mathrm{E}, \mathrm{G}, \mathrm{B}, \mathrm{D},\) and \(\mathrm{F}\) for the lines of the treble clef. This is an example of a (an) ______. a. jingle b. acronym c. acrostic d. acoustic

The self-referencing effect refers to ______. a. making the material you are trying to memorize personally meaningful to you b. making a phrase of all the first letters of the words you are trying to memorize c. making a word formed by the first letter of each of the words you are trying to memorize d. saying words you want to remember out loud to yourself

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The formulation of new memories is sometimes called ______, and the process of bringing up old memories is called ______. a. construction; reconstruction b. reconstruction; construction c. production; reproduction d. reproduction; production
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