Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Enhancing Witness Memory with Focused Meditation and Eye-Closure: Assessing the Effects of Misinformation

  • Published:
Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Despite the decline in popularity of hypnosis as an investigative interviewing technique, this paper builds on previous research showing that some of the techniques employed in traditional hypnotic interviewing may still be useful in the development of simple, brief memory facilitation procedures for use by the police. Three experiments are described that investigate the effects of a short Focused Meditation with eye-closure technique in situations where participants are presented with misleading information. In the first study, which utilized a standard misinformation paradigm, a significant memory facilitation effect was shown with Focused Meditation, though the effect was not significant for eye-closure alone. There were no increases in errors when the Meditation and eye-closure procedures were used alone or in combination. The second experiment showed that a combined Focused Meditation with eye-closure technique reduced misinformation effects associated with fictitious events, and a third showed that the same technique reduced interrogative suggestibility effects as measured by the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale, whilst facilitating free recall memory. It is concluded that a Focused Meditation with eye-closure technique may potentially have applications in the field where brief alternatives to the Cognitive Interview are required.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akehurst L, Milne R, Köhnken G (2003) The effects of children’s age and delay on recall in a cognitive or structured Interview. Psychol Crime Law 9:97–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ali N, Cimino CR (1997) Hemispheric lateralization of perception and memory for emotional verbal stimuli in normal individuals. Neuropsychology 11:114–125

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barber TX, Spanos NP, Chaves JF (1974) Hypnotism, imagination and human potentialities. Pergamon, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Benson H, Klipper MZ (1976) The relaxation response. Collins, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Crombag HF, Wagenaar WA, Van Koppen PJ (1996) Crashing memories and the problem of source monitoring. Appl Cogn Psychol 10:95–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dando C, Wilcock R, Milne R (2009a) The cognitive interview: novice police officers’ witness/victim interviewing practices. Psychol Crime Law 15:679–696

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dando C, Wilcock R, Milne R, Henry L (2009b) A modified Cognitive Interview procedure for frontline police officers. Appl Cogn Psychol 23:698–716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dinges DF, Whitehouse WG, Orne EC, Powell EW, Orne MT, Erdelyi MH (1992) Evaluating hypnotic memory enhancement (hypermnesia and reminiscence) using multitrial forced recall. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 18:1139–1147

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dornburg CC, McDaniel MA (2006) The cognitive interview enhances long-term free recall of older adults. Psychol Aging 21:196–200

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Edmonston WE (1977) Neutral hypnosis as relaxation. Am J Clin Hypn 30:69–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Edmonston WE (1991) Anesis. In: Lynn SJ, Rhue JW (eds) Theories of hypnosis: current models and perspectives. Guilford Press, New York, pp 197–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmett D, Clifford BR, Gwyer P (2003) An investigation of the interaction between cognitive style and context reinstatement on memory performance of eyewitnesses. Pers Individ Differ 34:1495–1508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erdelyi MW (1994) The empty set of hypermnesia. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 42:379–390

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher RP, Geiselman RE (1992) Memory enhancing techniques for investigative interviewing: the cognitive interview. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill

    Google Scholar 

  • Geiselman RE, Fisher RP, MacKinnon DP, Holland HL (1985) Eyewitness memory enhancement in the police interview: cognitive retrieval mnemonics versus hypnosis. J Appl Psychol 70:401–412

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Granhag P-A, Strömwall L, Billings FJ (2003) 'I'll never forget the sinking ferry': how social influence makes false memories surface. In: Vanderhallen M, Verareke G, van Koppen PJ, Goethals J (eds) Much ado about crime: chapters on psychology and law. Uitgeverij Politeia, Belgium, pp 129–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Gruzelier J, Warren K (1993) Neuropsychological evidence of reductions on left frontal tests with hypnosis. Psychol Med 23:93–101

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gudjonsson GH (1984) A new scale of interrogative suggestibility. Pers Individ Differ 5:303–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gudjonsson GH (1997) The Gudjonsson suggestibility scales manual. Psychology Press, Hove

    Google Scholar 

  • Gur RC, Gur RE (1974) Handedness, sex, and eyedness as moderating variables in the relation between hypnotic susceptibility and functional brain asymmetry. J Abnorm Psychol 83:635–643

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hammond L, Wagstaff GF, Cole J (2006) Facilitating eyewitness memory in adults and children with context reinstatement and focused meditation. J Investig Psychol Offender Profiling 3:117–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haward L, Ashworth A (1980) Some problems of evidence obtained by hypnosis. Criminal Law Review, August, pp 469–485

    Google Scholar 

  • Hibbard WS, Worring RW (1981) Forensic hypnosis: the practical application of hypnosis in criminal investigation. C.C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill

    Google Scholar 

  • Kebbell MR, Wagstaff GF (1999) The effectiveness of the cognitive interview. In: Canter D, Alison L (eds) Interviewing and deception. Ashgate, Dartmouth, pp 23–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Kebbell MR, Milne R, Wagstaff (1999) The cognitive interview: a survey of its forensic effectiveness. Psychol Crime Law 5:101–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kebbell MR, Milne R, Wagstaff GF (2001) The cognitive interview in forensic investigations. A review. In: Traverso GB, Bagnoli L (eds) Psychology and law in a changing world: new trends in theory, practice and research. Reading, Harwood, pp 185–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim JJ, Andreasen NC, O’Leary DS, Wiser AK, Ponto LLB, Watkins GL, Hichwa RD (1999) Direct comparison of neural substrates of recognition memory for words and faces. Brain 122:1069–1083

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Köhnken G, Milne R, Bull R, Memon A (1999) The cognitive interview: a meta-analysis. Psychol Crime Law 5:3–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koriat A, Goldsmith M (1994) Memory in naturalistic and laboratory contexts: distinguishing the accuracy-oriented and quantity-oriented approaches to memory assessment. J Exp Psychol Gen 123:297–316

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krauss J, Konoshita, McConkey (1989) Hypnotic memory and confident reporting. Appl Cogn Psychol 3:35–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson AS, Granhag PA, Spjut E (2002) Children's recall and the cognitive interview: do the positive effects hold over time? Appl Cogn Psychol 17:203–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loftus EF (1979) Eyewitness testimony. Harvard Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Loftus EF (2003) Make-believe memories. Am Psychol 58:867–873

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loftus EF, Miller DG, Burns HJ (1978) Semantic integration of verbal information into a visual memory. J Exp Psychol Hum Learn Mem 4:19–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macrae CN, Lewis HL (2002) Do I know you? Processing orientation and face recognition. Psychol Sci 13:194–196

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Memon A, Bull R (1991) The cognitive interview: its origins, empirical support, evaluation and practical implications. J Community Appl Soc Psychol 1:291–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Memon A, Holley A, Milne R, Köhnken G, Bull R (1994) Towards understanding the effects of interviewer training in evaluating the cognitive interview. Appl Cogn Psychol 8:641–659

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Memon A, Wark L, Bull R, Köhnken G (1997) Isolating the effects of the cognitive interview techniques. Br J Psychol 88:179–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morse DR, Martin JS, Furst ML, Dubin LL (1977) A physiological and subjective evaluation of meditation, hypnosis, and relaxation. Psychosom Med 39:304–324

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murray GJ, Cross HJ, Whipple J (1992) Hypnotically created pseudomemories: further investigation into the 'memory distortion or response bias' question. J Abnorm Psychol 101:75–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagae S, Moscovitch M (2002) Cerebral hemispheric differences in memory of emotional and non-emotional words in normal individuals. Neuropsychologia 40:1601–1607

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nogrady H, McConkey KM, Perry C (1985) Enhancing visual memory: trying hypnosis, trying imagination, and trying again. J Abnorm Psychol 2:194–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Ost J, Vrij A, Costall A, Bull R (2002) Crashing memories and reality monitoring: distinguishing between perceptions, imaginations and false memories. Appl Cogn Psychol 16:125–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ost J, Granhag PA, Udell J, Hjelmsäter E (2008) Familiarity breeds distortion: the effects of media exposure on false reports concerning media coverage of the terrorist attacks in London on July 7th 2005. Memory 16:76–85

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perfect TJ, Wagstaff GF, Moore D, Andrews B, Brown L, Cleveland V (2008) How can we help witnesses to remember more? It’s an (eyes) open and shut case. Law Hum Behav 55:486–496

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiser M (1980) Handbook of investigative hypnosis. Lehi, Los Angeles

    Google Scholar 

  • Scoboria A, Mazzoni G, Kirsch I, Milling LS (2002) Immediate and persisting effects of misleading questions and hypnosis on memory reports. J Exp Psychol Appl 8:26–32

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sergent J (1985) Influence of task and input factors on hemispheric processing in face processing. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 11:846–861

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sjödén B, Granhag A, Ost J, Roos Af Hjelmsäter E (2009) Is the truth in the details? Extended narratives help distinguishing false ‘memories’ from false ‘reports’. Scand J Psychol 50:203–210

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smeets T, Telgen S, Ost J, Jelicic M, Merckelbach H (2009) What’s behind crashing memories? Plausibility, belief and memory in reports of having seen non-existent images. Appl Cogn Psychol 23:1333–1341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stein LM, Memon A (2002) Testing the efficacy of the cognitive interview in a developing country. Appl Cogn Psychol 20:597–605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagstaff GF (1982a) Hypnosis and witness recall: a discussion paper. J R Soc Med 75:793–797

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wagstaff GF (1982b) Helping a witness remember—a project in forensic psychology. Police Res Bull 38:56–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagstaff GF (1998) The semantics and physiology of hypnosis as an altered state. Contemp Hypn 15:149–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagstaff GF (1999a) Forensic hypnosis. In: Kirsch I, Capafons A, Cardena-Buela E, Amigo S (eds) Clinical hypnosis and self-regulation therapy: a cognitive-behavioral perspective. American Psychological Association, Washington DC, pp 277–310

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wagstaff GF (1999b) Hypnotically elicited testimony. In: Heaton Armstrong A, Shepherd E, Wolchover D (eds) Analysing witness testimony. Blackstone, London, pp 277–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagstaff GF, Frost R (1996) Reversing and breaching posthypnotic amnesia and hypnotically created pseudomemories. Contemp Hypn 13:191–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagstaff GF, Wheatcroft JM (2010) The Liverpool Interview Protocol. Unpublished document. School of Psychology. University of Liverpool

  • Wagstaff GF, Brunas-Wagstaff J, Cole J, Wheatcroft J (2004a) New directions in forensic hypnosis: facilitating memory with focused meditation. Contemp Hypn 21:14–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagstaff GF, Brunas-Wagstaff J, Knapton L, Winterbottom J, Crean V, Cole J, Wheatcroft J (2004b) Facilitating memory with hypnosis, focused meditation and eyeclosure. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 52:434–455

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wagstaff GF, Cole J, Wheatcroft J, Marshall M, Barsby I (2007) A componential approach to hypnotic memory facilitation: focused meditation, context reinstatement and eye movements. Contemp Hypn 24:97–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagstaff GF, Cole J, Wheatcroft J, Anderton A, Madden H (2008) Reducing and reversing pseudomemories with hypnosis. Contemp Hypn 25:178–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehouse WG, Dinges DF, Orne EC, Orne MT (1988) Hypnotic hypermnesia: enhanced memory accessibility or report bias? J Abnorm Psychol 97:289–295

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Willcox B, Willcox C, Suzuki M (2001) The Okinawa way. Penguin, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson K, French CC (2005) The relationship between susceptibility to false memories, dissociativity and paranormal belief and experience. Pers Individ Differ 41:1493–1502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright AM, Holliday RE (2006) Enhancing the recall of young, young-old and old-old adults with cognitive interviews. Appl Cogn Psychol 21:19–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their thanks to the following for their help in data collection and collation: Kerry Mather, Jessica E.May, Alice C.McCall, Gemma McCarthy, Katerina P.McCourt, Emma McCrea, Benjamin Ofereh-Mugbeh and Megan Jones.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Eleanor Rathbone Building, Bedford Street South, Liverpool, L69 7ZA, UK

    Graham Francis Wagstaff, Jacqueline Mary Wheatcroft, Charlotte Lucy Burt, Hannah Jayne Pilkington, Keely Wilkinson & Jennifer Dianne Hoyle

Authors
  1. Graham Francis Wagstaff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jacqueline Mary Wheatcroft
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Charlotte Lucy Burt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hannah Jayne Pilkington
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Keely Wilkinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jennifer Dianne Hoyle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Graham Francis Wagstaff.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Focused Meditation Instruction

Please sit comfortably; keep your spine straight; keep your back straight and focus your attention now on your breathing. As you breathe in and out in a natural manner, focus on your breathing; breathing in and out in a natural manner. Take a few deep conscious breaths, but don’t strain. Just focus on your breathing, breathing in and out in a natural manner. Let the flow of your breath settle into its own natural rhythm; keep focused and aware during the whole process but concentrate on your breathing, breathing in and out in a natural manner. Allow your attention to focus on the changing rhythms of your breathing; and if your attention begins to wander, gently but firmly bring it back to your breathing. Now keep focusing on your breathing as you listen to the following instructions. Throughout the following instructions continue focusing on your breathing, breathing in and out in a natural rhythm.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wagstaff, G.F., Wheatcroft, J.M., Burt, C.L. et al. Enhancing Witness Memory with Focused Meditation and Eye-Closure: Assessing the Effects of Misinformation. J Police Crim Psych 26, 152–161 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-010-9082-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-010-9082-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation