Doctoral Dissertation Research: Distinguishing Perpetrator From Witness Memory on the Basis of Action, Motivation, and Arousal

以前的研究主要集中在测谎、审讯技术和口供评估上，所有这些都假定作案者能够准确地回忆起他们罪行的细节。由于其他目击者(特别是旁观者和受害者)对犯罪细节的记忆往往不完整和不准确，这种关于肇事者的假设很可能是被误导的。这项研究项目考虑了犯罪者和其他目击者是否会有不同的犯罪经历。预期的差异是根据行动、动机和唤醒程度来定义的。该研究计划包括三项单独的研究，采用试验性的形式。目前的研究将深入了解肇事者的记忆以及肇事者相对于其他目击者的表现。调查结果将有助于指导对通常来自犯罪嫌疑人的证词的评价，并在一般情况下确定刑事司法系统在调查和起诉犯罪时是否正确利用或过度依赖犯罪人的记忆。

Prior research has focused on deception detection, interrogation techniques, and the evaluation of confessions, all of which assume that perpetrators can recall with accuracy the details of their crimes. As other eyewitnesses (notably bystanders and victims) often exhibit incomplete and inaccurate memory for crime details, this assumption with regard to perpetrators may well be misguided. This research project considers whether perpetrators and other eyewitnesses experience crimes differently. The expected differences are defined in terms of action, motivation, and arousal. The research plan involves three separate studies using an experimental format. The current research will provide insights into perpetrator memory and the performance of perpetrators relative to other eyewitnesses. The results will help to guide the evaluation of statements often taken from crime suspects and determine in general if the criminal justice system correctly utilizes or over-relies on perpetrator memories in its investigation and prosecution of crimes.