The Fallibility of Eyewitness Testimony

This chapter examines the complexities and unreliability of eyewitness testimony in the legal system, emphasizing the need for caution in relying on personal accounts, particularly in light of modern technology. Highlighting a hit-and-run incident, it discusses how video evidence can be overlooked in favor of eyewitness accounts, which can lead to wrongful convictions. Historical insights and research contributions from psychologists like Hugo Munsterberg, Robert Buckout, and Elizabeth Loftus reveal the significant shifts in understanding human memory and its implications for justice.