Seminar 3

Defending Against False Allegations of Sexual Molestation:
90 Years of Reserach on Child Suggestibility

Seminar 3 is available in Window Media Streaming Video (see system requirements)

Introduction and Contents
This seminar breaks down, decades of scientific research into the manipulation of
children’s memories and explains how this important science can be used in the
courtroom, and includes:

90 Years of Research on Suggestibility– What is "Suggestibility"?
• Learning About the Natural History of an Allegation of Sexual Molestation
• What Motivates Interviews to Use Leading Questions
• The Anxious Parent
• Refusal to Accept the Child's Denial
• Parents' Lack of Accurate Recall of What Questions They Asked
• The Conversational Partner
• Peer Influence
• Negative Stereotyping
• Interviewer Bias
• Confirmatory Bias
• Preconceived Notions
• Cooperative Conversationalist
• Repeat Questions
• Source Monitoring
• The Pediatrician Studies
• Memory of Touching
• Anatomical Dolls
• Documentation of Forensic Interviews
• Notes v. Recording
• Interviewer Modification

Using the Research in Trial
• Gathering the Data
• Taint Hearings
• Studies vs. Video Presentation
• Crime and Punishment
• Courtroom Demonstration
• Conclusion

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