Post-Event Effect and Loftus Research

 

Elizabeth Loftus, a prominent psychologist, has conducted research on the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Her research has shown that memory of an event can be influenced by the form of questioning that an eyewitness receives after the event, which is known as the post-event effect. 

When the post-event is misinformation, the effect has been called the misinformation effect.

This effect has been demonstrated in many studies, including the classic psychology study by Loftus and Palmer (1974) Reconstruction of Automobile Destruction. The study showed that leading questions could distort eyewitness testimony accounts and so have a confabulating effect, as the account would become distorted by cues provided in the question.

How does Loftus work relate to the Rashomon effect?

The Rashomon effect is often used to emphasize the point that people’s perceptions about an event can differ considerably based on their individual personal experiences.

While the Rashomon effect and the post-event effect are both related to the reliability of eyewitness testimony, they are distinct phenomena. The Rashomon effect is concerned with the differences in perception among observers of an event, while the post-event effect is concerned with how subsequent information can affect an eyewitness's account of an event.

Resources

Loftus, E. F. (1981). Eyewitness Testimony: Psychological Research and Legal Thought. Crime and Justice, 3, 105–151. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1147378

 Loftus, E. F., & Palmer, J. C. (1974). Reconstruction of automobile destruction: An example of the interaction between language and memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal behavior, 13, 585-589.

Weinberg, H. I., Wadsworth, J., & Baron, R. S. (1983). Demand and the impact of leading questions on eyewitness testimony. Memory & cognition, 11(1), 101–104. https://doi.org/10.3758/bf03197667

A Related Resources

Rashomon Effect

Myth: Eyewitness Testimony is the Best Kind of Evidence

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

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