Forensic hypnosis

Abstract

Hypnosis has long generated controversy as a recall enhancement method. Concerns about hypnosis are warranted by findings of a tradeoff between the number of memories recalled and memory accuracy. Moreover, witnesses often express confidence in hypnotically augmented remembrances, regardless of their accuracy, increasing the risk jurors will be biased based on convincing yet inaccurate information. Although misleading questions appear to be equally or more problematic, raising concerns about singling out hypnosis as a uniquely prejudicial technique, other recall improvement methods (e.g., cognitive interview and asking individuals to do their best to recall target events) appear to pose less memory risks than hypnotic procedures