Discussion:
False Memory in Court cases
You are considered to be an expert in false memories, and a local district attorney has therefore requested your expertise on the following case: See Attachment. The district attorney has asked that you create a presentation about false memory and explain how it might influence this case. He asks that you specifically address the following:
1. Describe false memory and false memory experiments, special distractors, and normal distractors.
2. Describe at least one research study from a peer-reviewed journal that investigated how eyewitness memory can be affected by false memories.
3. Explain how false memory might influence this particular case. Use specifics from the description of the case, and research to support your answer.
4. Using evidence from the case, and outside research, justify why eyewitness testimonies should or should not carry weight in criminal proceedings.
5. Discuss any procedures which can increase or reduce the occurrence of false memories when reporting eyewitness events.
6. I have to present this as a legal case and I need to help the jury understand false memory and how it might influence the eyewitness testimony of this case.