How to induce resistance to the misinformation effect? Characteristics of positive feedback in the reinforced self-affirmation procedure

ABSTRACT

The memory misinformation effect consists in the inclusion in witness testimonies of information from sources other than the given event. In the present article, research which aims to make people resistant to misinformation is presented. It is based on reinforced self-affirmation (RSA), a method designed to enhance participants’ self-confidence and therefore make them more willing to rely on their own memories instead of external sources. RSA includes self-affirmation and positive feedback. In the present research, the efficacy of various kinds of positive feedback was explored. The results of Experiment 1 suggested that positive feedback relating to memory (MemRSA) is effective in reducing the misinformation effect, while positive feedback relating to general cognitive ability is not. In Experiment 2, the superiority of MemRSA over inefficient feedback relating to attention was demonstrated. In Experiment 3, MemRSA was again effective, and more effective than inducing convictions about the independence of judgements, but this also reduced the misinformation effect. The results are discussed from the perspective of witnesses who remember the correct information yet rely on external sources due to a lack of confidence in t aforementioned heir memories.     

刑事证人出庭作证问题探析

当前司法实践中存在的刑事证人不出庭作证问题已影响着司法公正和社会正义的实现.针对造成这种状况的原因,完善刑事立法时应明确规定证人拒绝出庭作证应当承担相应的行政或刑事责任,同时,完善对证人权利的保障制度.     

Bad nature, bad nurture, and testimony regarding MAOA and SLC6A4 genotyping at murder trials

Recent research-in which subjects were studied longitudinally from childhood until adulthood-has started to clarify how a child's environment and genetic makeup interact to create a violent adolescent or adult. For example, male subjects who were born with a particular allele of the monoamine oxidase A gene and also were maltreated as children had a much greater likelihood of manifesting violent antisocial behavior as adolescents and adults. Also, individuals who were born with particular alleles of the serotonin transporter gene and also experienced multiple stressful life events were more likely to manifest serious depression and suicidality. This research raises the question of whether testimony regarding a defendant's genotype, exposure to child maltreatment, and experience of unusual stress is appropriate to present during the guilt or penalty phases of criminal trials, especially when capital punishment is a consideration. The authors present their experience in genotyping criminal defendants and presenting genetic information at criminal trials.     

The Impact of Negative Forensic Evidence on Mock Jurors’ Perceptions of a Trial of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault

Legal concerns with regard to the adverse impact of a negative toxicological screening for date-rape drugs in a case of drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) were the focus of a recent Canadian case (R. v. Alouache, 2003). To assess the impact of a negative forensic report, as well as the impact of expert testimony explaining the many factors that may contribute to a negative outcome, participants (N=171) received a written trial stimulus in which the forensic evidence (negative report, negative report plus expert testimony, no negative report and no expert testimony control) and the complainant's beverage consumption (alcohol, cola) were systematically varied. Results indicate that a negative finding in the absence of expert testimony produced greater verdict leniency and more favourable evaluations of the defendant's case. In contrast, no differences were found between the case in which the expert testified and a case in which the negative report and expert testimony were omitted.

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论侦讯中的翻供

翻供是指被问主体推翻原作口供的行为 ,侦查翻供就是指被问主体即犯罪嫌疑人在侦查讯问阶段所进行的翻供。翻供的含义、情形、类型是多重、多样的。翻供既有内因也有外因 ,有的有利 ,有的有弊 ,其成因利弊可以通过审查口供和其他证据来确定。防止不利翻供关键是提高侦讯主体的素质 ,消除或减少翻供的诱因 ,巩固真实的口供 ;促成有利翻供主要是通过针对被问主体的反讯问手段 ,找出相应对策、措施 ,使其将原口供推翻。     

劳动合同的特殊性与劳动合同立法——试评劳动合同效力规则

劳动合同制度的设计与评价。必须要以劳动合同的特殊性为逻辑起点。与民事合同比较，劳动舍同具有主体不平等、内容不完全、功能关系性、形式附合性和利益外部性的特点。《劳动合同法》中，有关劳动合同效力的规定有成功也有不足。     

略论行政复议非书面审查方式及完善

我国现行行政复议制度中，审查方式上坚持以书面审查为主，非书面审查为辅的原则，致使对非书面审查方式理论研究的薄弱和立法条款的简陋，同时结合西方相关的经验，我国非书面审查方式在理论和实践中有存在并进一步发展的必要。针对我国当前由于立法指导思想的落后，致使行政复议中的非书面审查方式存在着启动主体不全、程序规定缺省等多方面的不足，必须从立法和具体制度建设上予以相应完善。     

我国民事诉讼证人证言制度重构初探

证人证言的随意性和不确定性 ,要求法律对其的规制更为严密 ,但我国对此的立法对于简陋 ,文章针对立法存在的缺陷 ,提出了相应的完善建议     

被害人陈述与证人证言区别论

被害人陈述与证人证言都属于人证,二者之间的关系极为密切,在我国刑事诉讼法中也有着诸多的共同制度安排,也存在着明显的制度差异.被害人具有当事人与实质证人的双重诉讼角色,虽然没有必须出庭的义务,但却有权全程参与刑事审判,而证人必须是当事人以外的人,在立法上被赋予应当出庭作证的义务,但无权全程参与刑事审判.在证明方向上,被害人陈述具有单向性、控诉性的特征,从而显著区别于证人证言.在主体适格性、庭审质证及作证保障等方面,较之证人证言的相对严密、规范的制度安排,被害人陈述的制度设计有进一步改良的需要.     

论民事诉讼中的证明妨碍

我国现有司法解释虽然规定了对证明妨碍行为的制裁,但其法理基础尚臻完善.合理的证明妨碍制度应当是:法官将证明妨碍作为当事人间公平的问题予以综合考虑,通过适用诚实信用原则和案件事实解明协力义务,结合其他证据,综合考量妨碍的性质、主观形态、实施的方式、可归责的程度以及被妨碍证据可证明待证事实的程度,在给予当事人充分程序保障的基础上,采取自由裁量方式对事实作出认定,从而实现对证明妨碍行为的制裁.