Eyewitness Testimony

Elizabeth Loftus’ 1979 work explains why people sometimes remember events inaccurately and how this simple fact has a profound impact on the criminal justice system, especially given the value placed on eyewitness accounts. Although, as these are based on memories that are not always reliable. Loftus recommends methods for gathering testimony that are less likely to distort memory and suggests experts on memory should be able to testify in court. Eyewitness Testimony led to important reforms in the American criminal justice system, inspired cognitive scientists to continue researching how memory works, and helped establish the field of psychology and law.