Lessons from the origins of eyewitness testimony research in Europe

Abstract

SUMMARYAfter 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.

14. Psychology and criminal justice

“…There are some good sources of information on the history of psychology in general (Leahey, 2004) and forensic psychology in particular (e.g. Ogloff, 2002or Sporer, 2008 In evaluating "What Works", the impact of justice systems, and interventions, we have seen significant progress being made in how we measure and determine "success". However, we have also gone from an era of unprecedented spending on correctional interventions to austerity and cut backs.…”

“…Our concern with effecting justice and with avoiding miss-carriages of justice dates back to the earliest applications of psychology to the courts (see Sporer 1982Sporer , 2008. Sporer also points out that legal commentary and practice had identified the importance of properly conducted identification parades and had questioned the credibility of some court witnesses nearly 200 years ago (Henke, 1838 and Mittermaier, 1834 both cited in Sporer, 2008).…”

“…Sporer also points out that legal commentary and practice had identified the importance of properly conducted identification parades and had questioned the credibility of some court witnesses nearly 200 years ago (Henke, 1838 and Mittermaier, 1834 both cited in Sporer, 2008). However, the caution urged in relying on testimony and practical suggestions made, did not change court practices.…”

Estimating the impact of estimator variables on eyewitness identification: A fruitful marriage of practical problem solving and psychological theorizing

“…My criterion for a 'critical mass' of knowledge being associated with any variable affecting eyewitness memory requires two conditions to have been met. First, there should have been published at least one up-to-date meta-analysis of a body of studies providing effect size estimates for this variable (cf., Sporer, 2008). Second, there must have been published a sound theoretical analysis of the operation of this variable within an eyewitness identification context (cf., Lane & Meissner, 2008).…”

“…Valentine and Mesout directly tested the prediction of the three-dimensional anxiety-performance model that there would be a catastrophic decline in eyewitness identification performance under real world conditions of heightened stress and confirmed this prediction. The Valentine and Mesout study also answers the call by Sporer (2008) that more studies be done that engender stress levels better approximating those of eyewitnesses whose life and limb are threatened, studies wherein investigators collect physiological measures, as well, to link the stress response more directly to memory measures.…”