The Forensic View

Stress

Why Our Heart Rate Spikes When We're Stressed

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on March 13, 2023

Many of our psychological and physiological responses to stress may have been adaptive in the ancient world, even if they're maladaptive today.

Many of our psychological and physiological responses to stress may have been adaptive in the ancient world, even if they're maladaptive today.

Law and Crime

Protecting the Innocent: Lineups, Good and Bad

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on February 13, 2023

Lineups are important tools for identifying criminal suspects, but the context and psychology of the lineup are critically important for accuracy.

Lineups are important tools for identifying criminal suspects, but the context and psychology of the lineup are critically important for accuracy.

Guilt

Protecting the Innocent: The Cognitive Context of Guilt

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on January 16, 2023

The social and physical contexts within which a criminal suspect is viewed by witnesses can be critical for the accuracy or inaccuracy of the identification.

The social and physical contexts within which a criminal suspect is viewed by witnesses can be critical for the accuracy or inaccuracy of the identification.

Law and Crime

Protecting the Innocent: Eyewitness Identification

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on December 19, 2022

There are several methods of eliciting eyewitness information. The psychological principles driving each must be understood to prevent miscarriages of justice.

There are several methods of eliciting eyewitness information. The psychological principles driving each must be understood to prevent miscarriages of justice.

Stress

Ancient Fears: Acute and Chronic Stress Responses

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on November 21, 2022

Chronic stress is ubiquitous in the modern world and very damaging. To what degree does our ancient ancestry contribute to this effect, and is there anything we can do about it?

Chronic stress is ubiquitous in the modern world and very damaging. To what degree does our ancient ancestry contribute to this effect, and is there anything we can do about it?

Psychology

Outside the Forensic Box: The Scientist as Eyewitness

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on October 24, 2022

Is science ever truly "objective"? Psychological factors have proven to be critical in scientific and even medical observations, as they are in criminal investigations.

Is science ever truly "objective"? Psychological factors have proven to be critical in scientific and even medical observations, as they are in criminal investigations.

Memory

Why Marco Polo Thought He Saw a Unicorn

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on September 26, 2022

Exploration of new places involves eyewitness memory; and like other eyewitnesses, great explorers have not always proven to be right about what they've seen.

Exploration of new places involves eyewitness memory; and like other eyewitnesses, great explorers have not always proven to be right about what they've seen.

Psychology

Outside the Forensic Box: Ancient Witnesses

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on August 29, 2022

How are "supernatural" and abnormal things generally perceived and interpreted? Are they really there, or are they created in our minds? Modern cognitive psychology provides answers.

How are "supernatural" and abnormal things generally perceived and interpreted? Are they really there, or are they created in our minds? Modern cognitive psychology provides answers.

Heuristics

Perception and Interpretation in Criminal Justice

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on August 2, 2022

Officer-involved shootings are frequently tragic—but how much does the presence or absence of a suspect weapon alter our judgments of these events?

Officer-involved shootings are frequently tragic—but how much does the presence or absence of a suspect weapon alter our judgments of these events?

Sex

Sex and Gender in Officer-Involved Shootings

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on July 2, 2022

Officer-involved shootings are complex and frequently tragic. Our views in such cases can be biased even further by factors related to sex and gender.

Officer-involved shootings are complex and frequently tragic. Our views in such cases can be biased even further by factors related to sex and gender.

Guilt

Officer-Involved Shootings in Cognitive Context

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on June 3, 2022

What is the legal nature of guilt in an officer-involved shooting? Forensic cognitive science can shed light on this very sensitive topic.

What is the legal nature of guilt in an officer-involved shooting? Forensic cognitive science can shed light on this very sensitive topic.

Stress

How We Process Under Pressure: The Loud Sounds of Silence

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on May 6, 2022

We have seen that high stress can alter the way we interpret the world, but, in fact, such stress can change the way we see and hear it as well.

We have seen that high stress can alter the way we interpret the world, but, in fact, such stress can change the way we see and hear it as well.

Stress

How We Process Under Pressure: Thinking to Lose

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on April 8, 2022

Extreme stress can lead to dissociative states, in which we may perceive and believe things which are completely untrue, and can also lead us to speak in very destructive ways.

Extreme stress can lead to dissociative states, in which we may perceive and believe things which are completely untrue, and can also lead us to speak in very destructive ways.

Stress

How We Process Under Pressure: On Not Being a Superhero

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on March 11, 2022

Under high stress, our brains can make us seem almost superhuman, but these experiences are illusions. Awareness of these mental processes can help to keep us alive.

Under high stress, our brains can make us seem almost superhuman, but these experiences are illusions. Awareness of these mental processes can help to keep us alive.

Stress

How We Process Under Pressure: Tunnel Vision

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on February 11, 2022

Under stress, many people experience tunnel vision. This tendency to ignore the periphery of our visual fields can blind us to dangers as well as options.

Under stress, many people experience tunnel vision. This tendency to ignore the periphery of our visual fields can blind us to dangers as well as options.

Stress

How We Process Under Pressure: Stress and Automatic Behavior

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on January 14, 2022

Under extreme stress, we may not be as flexible as we think; we may apply old habits to new problems in very dangerous ways.

Under extreme stress, we may not be as flexible as we think; we may apply old habits to new problems in very dangerous ways.

Stress

How We Process Under Pressure: Stress, Perception and Cognition

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on December 17, 2021

Extreme stress changes our physiology and our psychology. Modern research shows us what we can expect our minds to do in very stressful environments.

Extreme stress changes our physiology and our psychology. Modern research shows us what we can expect our minds to do in very stressful environments.

Environment

Outside the Forensic Box: Science, Language, and Thought

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on November 19, 2021

Scientific interpretations can be biased by prior beliefs, but the way in which information is presented can reduce these effects.

Scientific interpretations can be biased by prior beliefs, but the way in which information is presented can reduce these effects.

Psychology

Outside the Forensic Box: Eyewitness Psychology and Science

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on October 22, 2021

Accuracy and errors in the scientific world depend in part on psychological principles. Forensic psychology can help to clarify these issues.

Accuracy and errors in the scientific world depend in part on psychological principles. Forensic psychology can help to clarify these issues.

Confidence

Processing Under Pressure 3.0

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on September 24, 2021

What are the most important factors in forensic cognitive science today? A new book addresses this topic.

What are the most important factors in forensic cognitive science today? A new book addresses this topic.