Creating False Memories

This is an excellent article written by Elizabeth Lofus, one of the top experts on eye witness testimony, for the September 1997 issue of the Scientific American. The article, "Creating False Memories", provides not only information on false memories, but includes research on the planting of a false memory.

The article can be found at either of the following two websites, https://webfiles.uci.edu/eloftus/Loftus_ScientificAmerican_Good97.pdf?uniq=-jd60qg or http://faculty.washington.edu/eloftus/Articles/sciam.htm

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"60 Minutes" Segment on Eye-Witness Testimony

Below you will find the video clips from the March 8, 2009 "60 Minutes" episode on eye-witness testimony. For more information go to http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml




Watch CBS Videos Online
To view the above video on the "60 Minutes" website go to http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4852659n



Watch CBS Videos Online
To view the above video on the "60 Minutes" website go to http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4852677n

Please see the below blog posting for more information on the "60 Minutes" segments.

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60 Minutes Memory Episode

Sunday's "60 Minutes" had a double-length segment on the problems with eyewitness identification. As I watched it I looked for some other information online so I thought I would share with you all.

60 Minutes -- didn't see it or tape it? Never mind, it's online. (I'm guessing it's only going to be available for a limited time online, though.) See the videos and read the transcript, plus see a short online exclusive video with Elizabeth Loftus on creating a false memory ("the Bunny Effect"). http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/06/60minutes/main4848039.shtml

Picking Cotton -- the book by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton has its own web site and it's awesome, especially the Case File section where you get to see all of the evidence.
http://www.pickingcottonbook.com/

The Innocence Project -- the project started in 1992 to use DNA evidence to help free wrongly convicted people. http://www.innocenceproject.org/

The eyewitness test shown on "60 Minutes" created by Iowa State's Gary Wells.
http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/FACULTY/gwells/theeyewitnesstest.html

The rest of Dr. Wells' page is complete sensory overload but also
chock-full of links: http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/FACULTY/gwells/

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TV Alert - Elizabeth Loftus on 60 Minutes

Set your VCRs, DVRs or computers for the March 8th showing of "60 Minutes".

In her keynote address at the Midwest Institute for Students and Teachers of Psychology (MISTOP) last Friday, Elizabeth Loftus detailed how this Sunday's show will contain a segment on memory and eye witness testimony. From her description it sounds to be very interesting.

The 60 Minutes website describes the segment as "Lesley Stahl reports on flaws in eyewitness testimony that are at the heart of the DNA exonerations of falsely convicted people like Ronald Cotton, who has forgiven his accuser, Jennifer Thompson. (This is a double-length segment.)"

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