Can Eyewitness Testimony Be Improved?
• Two general approaches have been tried to improve eyewitness testimony, but neither has been very successful. The first involves hypnosis. Research suggests hypnosis improves confidence but not accuracy of memories. The second involves the use of the cognitive interview, a technique whereby a trained interviewer tries to improve eyewitnesses’ memories by focusing their attention on the details and the context of the event. Although initial research seemed promising, subsequent research finds that this technique may increase errors and confabulations, especially when used with children. One reason may be that repeatedly imagining an event increases source monitoring errors. As of yet there is no definitive way to improve eyewitnesses’ memory other than avoiding the pitfalls discussed in this chapter. E. The Recovered Memory Debate • Recovered memories are recollections of a past event, such as sexual abuse, that had been forgotten or repressed; a great deal of controversy surrounds th
