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Television Reports of Forensic Hypnosis: What's on the News?
Author(s) -
McConkey Kevin M.,
Roche Suzanne M.,
Sheehan Peter W.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
australian journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1839-4655
pISSN - 0157-6321
DOI - 10.1002/j.1839-4655.1989.tb00856.x
Subject(s) - hypnosis , presentation (obstetrics) , psychology , forensic science , project commissioning , criminal investigation , publishing , criminology , political science , law , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , veterinary medicine , radiology
This paper presents a content analysis of television news and current affairs reports of forensic hypnosis focusing on the information conveyed about the nature of hypnosis, the introduction of hypnosis to criminal investigation, the impact of hypnosis on memory, the usefulness of hypnosis in criminal investigation, and the recognition of potential problems associated with forensic hypnosis. Findings indicate that the reports conveyed simplistic notions about hypnosis and memory, and were encouraging and uncritical in their presentation of forensic hypnosis. The research is discussed in terms of the possible influence of the reports on public opinion.