Enhancing Witness Memory With Techniques Derived From Hypnotic Investigative Interviewing:Focused Meditation, Eye-Closure, and Context Reinstatement

Abstract

Due to several well-documented problems, hypnosis as a forensic interviewing tool has been largely replaced by the cognitive interview; however, the latter is problematic in time and complexity. This article builds on previous research showing that some procedures used in traditional hypnotic forensic interviewing might still be useful in developing alternative procedures for use in investigative interviewing. Two experiments are described that include a focused meditation with eye-closure technique with similarities to conventional hypnotic induction but without the label of hypnosis. In the first, focused meditation was comparable to a context reinstatement, or revivification, technique in facilitating memory in children aged 6 to 7 without increasing errors or inflating confidence. In the second, when used in combination with context reinstatement, focused meditation was resistant to the effects of misleading information in adults. Implications are discussed.

Effects of a Focused Breathing Mindfulness Exercise on Attention, Memory, and Mood: The Importance of Task Characteristics

“…This explanation is supported by the data showing that on average, participants in both conditions improved their performances with the recall unit score but not the thematic unit score. These differences are similar to previous findings, especially those in which the participants had to recall familiar, meaningful material and remember connections between elements, such as a university lecture, remembering human faces, or the contents of short video clips (e.g., Hammond et al, 2006;Ramsburg & Youmans, 2013;Wagstaff et al, 2004a;Wagstaff et al, 2004b;Wagstaff et al, 2011). This experiment added evidence to the memory-enhancing effects of the FB and raised the possibility that it can be especially useful for somewhat meaningful tasks in which it may be important to remember connections between elements.…”

The effectiveness of eye‐closure in repeated interviews

“…Therefore, the simple eye‐closure instruction could be a useful addition to the investigative interviewer's tool box, particularly in cases in which time is limited. This interview tool could be used alongside other brief techniques shown to be effective, such as focused meditation, mental context reinstatement, and modified Cognitive Interview procedures (e.g., Dando, Wilcock, & Milne, ; Davis, McMahon, & Greenwood, ; Wagstaff, Cole, Wheatcroft, Marshall, & Barsby, ; Wagstaff et al ., ; Wagstaff, Wheatcroft, Caddick, Kirby, & Lamont, ; Wagstaff, Wheatcroft, Burt, et al., ).…”

Specialist police interviewer perceptions of the enhanced cognitive interview: usefulness, confidence and witness reliability

“…Additionally, despite theoretical intention to include all components, the operational reality is that few of the techniques are actually 'used' (Dando et al 2008). As operational time is paramount this factor alone may pave the way for simplification and standardisation (see Wagstaff & Wheatcroft, 2012;Wagstaff, Wheatcroft, et al 2011).…”

“…There is obvious import in the exploration of opinions/beliefs of police interviewers using techniques as part of daily roles, yet only more recently have researchers examined police officers' actual ECI 'application' (Dando et al 2009a). However, systematic exploration with a view to the identification of 'long-lasting' modifications to the technique have not yet been fully undertaken; though investigation into ways of minimising officer training whilst maintaining procedural efficacy have taken place Wagstaff, Wheatcroft, et al 2011). It is now timely and essential to examine operational ECI specialist-trained officers' perceptions of the ECI to continue to inform the emphasis toward practise where all witnesses are interviewed in ways that maximise memory performance.…”