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Hypnosis with defendants: does it really work?
1University of Miami School of Medicine.
The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis
|April 1, 1990
Summary
Hypnosis can refresh memories in defendants, but its use in court is controversial. Scientific evidence on memory reliability after hypnosis significantly impacts legal admissibility decisions.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Legal Psychology
Background:
- Court admissibility of post-hypnotic statements is debated.
- Scientific findings on memory retrieval influence legal rulings.
- Hypnosis is used to refresh witness and defendant memories.
Observation:
- Two case histories of defendants whose memories were enhanced by hypnosis are presented.
- Current legal decisions regarding hypnosis use are examined.
- The impact of these rulings on memory research is discussed.
Findings:
- Court decisions on hypnosis admissibility are influenced by scientific credibility and reliability data.
- Hypnosis can be effective in memory retrieval for legal cases.
- There is ongoing scientific debate regarding the reliability of hypnotically refreshed memories.
Implications:
- Legal professionals must understand the scientific basis of memory and hypnosis.
- Courtroom use of hypnosis requires careful consideration of scientific evidence.
- Future research should address the reliability and admissibility of hypnotically retrieved evidence.