Human Factors in the Courtroom: Mythology versus Science

William Uttal

Table of Contents  (Back to book ordering page)

Dedication v
Acknowledgments vii
Preface xiii

Chapter 1: Common Sense and Nonsense in the Courtroom 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 The Tyranny of Junk Science 5
1.3 The Kinds of Psychology 10
A. Clinical psychology 11
B. Chemical psychiatry 11
C. Experimental psychology 14
D. Human factors 15
1.4 The Admissibility of Scientific Evidence 18
1.5 Some Mythical Entities and Human Variability 23
A. The average person (The thin skull rule) 23
B. The normally prudent person (The reasonable person rule) 24
1.6 Bias in Human Factors Research 31
1.7 Interim Summary-The Inevitable Compromise 36
Endnotes 42

Chapter 2: Why the Mind Cannot Be Read--The Machine Mystique 45
2.1 Introduction-Mind Reading in the Courtroom 45
2.2 Why the Mind is Inaccessible 49
A. What people think they are thinking is not equal to what they are really thinking 49
B. The origins of our thoughts can be attributed to forces of which we are not aware 51
2.3 The Magical Electronic Mind Readers 52
A. The Polygraph 52
B. The classic electrical measures of brain activity 66
C. MRI brain imaging 68
D. Optical measurement of blood flow 70
E. Voice stress analysis 71
F. Facial heat distribution 73
G. Facial microexpressions 74
2.4 Interim Conclusion 75
Endnotes 78

Chapter 3: Why the Mind Cannot Be Read--Human Mind Readers 81
3.1 Introduction 81
3.2 A Bestiary of Professional Mind Readers 83
A. Clinical psychologists 83
B. Jury selection consultants 96
C. Criminal profilers 106
D. Criminalists and criminologists 114
E. Hypnotists 116
F. Psychics and astrologers 125
3.3 An Interim Summary 131
Endnotes 135

Chapter 4: Factors Influencing Driving Behavior-Cognitive Processes 139
4.1 Introduction 139
4.2 Factors Influencing Decision Making 144
A. Objective risk 144
B. Subjective risk 145
C. Information or task overload 148
D. The psychological refractory period and cognitive dissonance 151
4.3 Factors Affecting the Allocation of Attention 153
A. Expectancy and uncertainty 156
B. Distractions of attention and attention shifting 159
4.4 Factors Affecting Memory 164
A. Eyewitness testimony 166
B. Forensic art 169
C. Repressed memories or false memories? 170
D. The lineup 173
4.5 Interim Conclusions 177
Endnotes 178

Chapter 5: Factors Influencing Driving Behavior-Response Processes 181
5.1 Introduction 181
5.2 Perception Response (Reaction) Time 182
5.3 Alcohol 193
5.4 Marijuana 201
5.5 Other Drugs 205
5.6 Age 207
5.7 Sleep Deprivation 212
5.8 Fatigue and Vigilance 217
5.9 Driver Training 225
5.10 Ergonomics and Anthropometry 228
5.11 An Important New Development: The Event Data Recorder 232
5.12 Interim Summary 235
Endnotes 238

Chapter 6: Factors Influencing Driving Behavior-Sensory and Perceptual Processes 243
6.1 Introduction 243
A. Some definitions 244
B. Factors determining visibility 247
C. Factors determining audibility 254
D. Signal detection: criterion levels, and discriminability 259
6.2 General Visual Factors Influencing Driving Behavior 260
A. Roadway design and markings 261
B. Night time driving 263
C. Some additional human factors 264
6.3 Conspicuity Enhancing Factors 265
A. Contrast 266
B. Reverse contrast 267
C. Flashing lights 267
D. Retroreflectivity 268
6.4 Conspicuity Inhibiting Factors 269
A. Glare 269
B. Clutter 273
C. Obstructed vision 276
D. Night myopia 277
E. Peripheral versus foveal vision 277
F. Attentional tunneling 279
G. The mythical Moth Effect 281
H. Pedestrian conspicuity 283
I. Motorcycle and bicycle conspicuity 287
J. Eye movements and biokinematics 288
K. Speed and distance judgments 290
6.5 Interim Summary 292
Endnotes 294

Chapter 7: Summary and Conclusions 297
7.1 Introduction 297
7.2 General Principles of Human Factors in the Courtroom 300
7.3 Recommendations 311
Appendix A: Advisory Manuals 315
Appendix B: The Naval Observatory 323
Appendix C: The Measurement of Light 327
Appendix D: Forensic Photography 331

Bibliography 343
About the Author 369
Index 371

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