Significant Dates in the History of Forensic Hypnosis

Abstract

Important dates in the history of forensic hypnosis are identified and their significance is briefly described. Trends regarding the use of forensic hypnosis are highlighted, as well as criticisms of various positions. The authors recommend that professionals who practice forensic hypnosis be thoroughly familiar with the significant precedents, problems, and pitfalls that have arisen concerning the use of hypnosis with memory in forensic settings.

The False Litigant Syndrome: “Nobody Would Say That Unless it was the Truth”

“…2o The use of Spiegel's testimony is consid ered a landmark event in the law of confessions21 and in the area of forensic hypnosis. 22 Wrightsman and Kassin23 identify the Bradley Page case24 as an illustration of the coerced-compliant type of false confes sion. They note that "For apparently the first time a social psychologist was allowed to testify about social influence and coercion in the interrogation room."…”