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Perception, Thought, and Emotion

Eyewitness memories are not generated by perception alone; individual differences, personal experience, and emotion play major roles in their formation.

Eyewitness memories are not generated by perception alone; individual differences, personal experience, and emotion play major roles in their formation.

Memory, the Mandela Effect, and Pterodactyls of the Mind

In previous posts, we have seen that details can be inadvertently altered or created in eyewitness accounts, but such accidental errors can also occur on a much larger scale.

In previous posts, we have seen that details can be inadvertently altered or created in eyewitness accounts, but such accidental errors can also occur on a much larger scale.

A Cautionary Tale: Are the Memories True?

A recent film offers a startlingly intimate study of the aftermath of a once-popular but now disfavored approach.

A recent film offers a startlingly intimate study of the aftermath of a once-popular but now disfavored approach.

Evidence Matters: Marcos' Menagerie and Source Confusion

Confusion of the sources of evidence can plague the criminal justice system. Historical examples outside the forensic realm can shed light on the psychology of this problem.

Confusion of the sources of evidence can plague the criminal justice system. Historical examples outside the forensic realm can shed light on the psychology of this problem.

Perceived Control and Coping With Threats We Want to Forget

To shield ourselves from unpleasant feelings, we are sometimes tempted to forget distressing information. Perceived control can help.

To shield ourselves from unpleasant feelings, we are sometimes tempted to forget distressing information. Perceived control can help.

Why Breakups Always Feel Predictable Retrospectively

Hindsight bias can influence our perception of relationships. These two methods can help you see more clearly.

Hindsight bias can influence our perception of relationships. These two methods can help you see more clearly.

What Is Déjà Vu?

Déjà vu: A glich in the matrix or a matter of memory?

Déjà vu: A glich in the matrix or a matter of memory?

What Forensic Psychology Can Learn From Alien Abductions

Forensic cognitive science is useful in explaining "paranormal" encounters—but can the reverse be true? The psychology of "alien abductions" says yes.

Forensic cognitive science is useful in explaining "paranormal" encounters—but can the reverse be true? The psychology of "alien abductions" says yes.

Truth? Delusion or Hallucination?

A Personal Perspective: How safely can you rely on what you see with your own eyes?

A Personal Perspective: How safely can you rely on what you see with your own eyes?

A New Mystery Surrounding the Tip of the Tongue State

Have you ever felt like a word was so close to access that you knew some of its attributes as the word continued to elude you? The recall of its attributes may have been illusory.

Have you ever felt like a word was so close to access that you knew some of its attributes as the word continued to elude you? The recall of its attributes may have been illusory.

Psychology and the Flying Saucer People

Current psychological research indicates that many perceptions and interpretations of unidentified aerial phenomena, UAPs, reside in the mind, rather than in physical reality.

Current psychological research indicates that many perceptions and interpretations of unidentified aerial phenomena, UAPs, reside in the mind, rather than in physical reality.

Jennifer Aniston on the Brain

How to use Jennifer Aniston neurons and memory castles to improve your memory and enhance your cognitive function.

How to use Jennifer Aniston neurons and memory castles to improve your memory and enhance your cognitive function.

Are People Actually Any Good at Estimating Height?

Estimates of heights and dimensions can be critically important in eyewitness accounts—yet our ability to make such estimates can prove shockingly poor.

Estimates of heights and dimensions can be critically important in eyewitness accounts—yet our ability to make such estimates can prove shockingly poor.

Protecting the Innocent: Lineups, Good and Bad

Lineups are important tools for identifying criminal suspects, but the context and psychology of the lineup are critically important for accuracy.

Lineups are important tools for identifying criminal suspects, but the context and psychology of the lineup are critically important for accuracy.

Testing the Visual Mandela Effect

Many people have similar false memories of cultural icons like logos and cartoon characters. New research investigates why the "visual Mandela effect" occurs.

Many people have similar false memories of cultural icons like logos and cartoon characters. New research investigates why the "visual Mandela effect" occurs.

Protecting the Innocent: The Cognitive Context of Guilt

The social and physical contexts within which a criminal suspect is viewed by witnesses can be critical for the accuracy or inaccuracy of the identification.

The social and physical contexts within which a criminal suspect is viewed by witnesses can be critical for the accuracy or inaccuracy of the identification.

Can Memories Be Plagiarized?

It’s not just stories, jokes, and songs: personal memories can be purloined too.

It’s not just stories, jokes, and songs: personal memories can be purloined too.

Protecting the Innocent: Eyewitness Identification

There are several methods of eliciting eyewitness information. The psychological principles driving each must be understood to prevent miscarriages of justice.

There are several methods of eliciting eyewitness information. The psychological principles driving each must be understood to prevent miscarriages of justice.

Is It Always the Gaslighter's Fault?

Gaslighting is generally seen as an attempt to evade the truth or just confuse you. New research suggests that some cases may be more innocent than you realize.

Gaslighting is generally seen as an attempt to evade the truth or just confuse you. New research suggests that some cases may be more innocent than you realize.

My Daddy’s a Serial Killer

A woman in Iowa claims her father's one of the country's top serial killers. Is there any reason to doubt her?

A woman in Iowa claims her father's one of the country's top serial killers. Is there any reason to doubt her?

Why Marco Polo Thought He Saw a Unicorn

Exploration of new places involves eyewitness memory; and like other eyewitnesses, great explorers have not always proven to be right about what they've seen.

Exploration of new places involves eyewitness memory; and like other eyewitnesses, great explorers have not always proven to be right about what they've seen.

Why We Can’t Remember Our Earliest Years

Most of us can't remember anything before the age of 2 or 3—a phenomenon called infantile amnesia. Here is what science says about why, and whether babies can make memories.

Most of us can't remember anything before the age of 2 or 3—a phenomenon called infantile amnesia. Here is what science says about why, and whether babies can make memories.

Is Your Mind Being Hacked Without Your Consent?

Suggestion can be a powerful force, and most people fail to spot when they’re being duped. But it's possible to fight back.

Suggestion can be a powerful force, and most people fail to spot when they’re being duped. But it's possible to fight back.

False Ideas About False Memories

False ideas about false memories. The misuse of false memory syndrome as a defense in cases of sexual misconduct.

False ideas about false memories. The misuse of false memory syndrome as a defense in cases of sexual misconduct.

Is Verbal Consent the Right Criterion for Consensual Sex?

Colleges and universities in the U.S. emphasize the need for verbal consent before sex. But that doesn't seem to be working with students who are drinking to the point of blackout.

Colleges and universities in the U.S. emphasize the need for verbal consent before sex. But that doesn't seem to be working with students who are drinking to the point of blackout.