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Lessons from the origins of eyewitness testimony research in Europe
Author(s) -
Sporer Siegfried Ludwig
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
applied cognitive psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.719
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1099-0720
pISSN - 0888-4080
DOI - 10.1002/acp.1479
Subject(s) - psychology , eyewitness testimony , interrogation , eyewitness identification , scope (computer science) , statement (logic) , eyewitness memory , experimental psychology , cognition , criminology , social psychology , cognitive psychology , law , political science , relation (database) , recall , database , neuroscience , computer science , programming language
After 100 years of research I look back at the beginnings of the psychology of eyewitness testimony to assess the ‘progress’ researchers have made. Specifically, I review the origins of (experimental) psychological research at the first three decades of the 20th century in Central Europe which quickly expanded around the world. Both eyewitness errors (e.g. due to suggestive questioning) as well as intentional distortions of the truth (lies) were thoroughly studied at that time. An eyewitness statement was considered a joint product of cognitive factors and of interrogation. It is argued that many of the central issues that are at the focus of study today had already been addressed in this early period, perhaps even with a broader scope than much contemporary writing. At the end, I propose an integrative model of the psychology of testimony that may help to organise past and future research. Ten theses that address unresolved issues and suggestions for solutions after 100 years of research are outlined. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.