Essay on Eyewitness Error - 1177 Words

Memory is a cognitive function of the brain that is often taken for granted. Memory may have many purposes, but most importantly it is essentially a record of an entire life span. From this perspective memory is the most important aspect of consciousness. Unfortunately, through formal experimentation it has been shown that memory is fairly inaccurate, inconsistent, and often influenced by our own experiences as well as the bias of others. Memory is not only affected during an observed event, but there are instances where memory can be influenced after an event as well. There are also instances where memory can be affected retroactively due to personal experiences and biases. Incorrectly recalling the memories of one’s life is usually not†¦show more content†¦After fighting for his innocence for four years it was found that neither his DNA nor the victims DNA was able to be located at the scene of the crime. Mr. Bravo was also cited as wrongfully convicted due to erron eous eyewitness testimony (â€Å"Innocence Lost,† 2004). In the case previously described there are several moments where the witness could have recalled a false memory. Eyewitness error can occur during short-term memory or long-term memory function. From the constructive memory approach the witness could be influenced in a number of ways. If a male of Latino descent had attacked the eyewitness in the past, this could influence not only his or her perception, but also the consolidation of memory. The prejudices and bias of the eyewitness could also affect his or her memory. When the eyewitness is called to the stand for testimony there are many instances where their eyewitness testimony could be convoluted. According to the constructive memory theory memory also becomes less accurate over time. The eyewitness may remember the event in general, but after a period of time the specific details will usually be forgotten (Hudson, 1990, p. 180). Unfortunately error in memory recall is not the only difficulty facing those who have experience wrongful conviction. In Mr. Bravo’s case he was unable to produce a strong alibi due to the lack of assistance from his council (â€Å"Innocence Lost,† 2004). This setbackShow MoreRelatedFalse Memory Eyewitness Testimony Essay1590 Words   |  7 PagesFalse Memory and Eyewitness Testimony PSY363 False Memory and Eyewitness Testimony A false memory is simply a memory that did not occur. An actual experience can become distorted as best illustrated by the Cog Lab experiment on false memories accessed through Argosy University. The experiment is outlined as follows: a participant is given a list of words that are highly relative in nature at a rate of about one word every 2 seconds. At the finish of the given list, the participantRead MoreEssay on Problems with Eyewitness Testimony1395 Words   |  6 PagesEyewitness testimony has been used for many centuries and continues to be a part of our criminal justice system. Although, there has been many controversy debates on whether to allow the continuation of these testimonies in court, and allow it to be used as evidence. Eyewitness testimony can either be harmful or useful for an individual. We must fully analysis and see what certain factors (psychological, and age wise) come into the equation before coming up with final conclusions. A case studyRead MoreHow The Justice System Is Run? Essay1211 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom planted or tampered evidence, and they must ensure that they complete all of their duties, investigations, and documentation completely, accurately and maintain the integrity of the case. 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