New directions in forensic hypnosis: facilitating memory with a focused meditation technique
Graham F. Wagstaff, Joana Brunas‐Wagstaff, Jon C. Cole, Jacqueline M. Wheatcroft
Contemporary Hypnosis March 1, 2004 DOI: 10.1002/ch.284 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Focused breathing meditation (FM) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 37 |
| Key findings | Argues that a brief focused breathing meditation technique, using elements of hypnotic induction but divorced from the 'hypnosis' label, can facilitate face identification memory without increasing false positive errors; trends indicated fewer false positives with FM. |
Abstract
Abstract In the late 1970s and early 1980s considerable publicity was given to the use of hypnosis as a technique to facilitate witness' memory in police investigations. As empirical evidence mounted, however, a number of limitations and disadvantages emerged with regard to the use of hypnosis in this role. As a consequence, hypnosis as an aid in forensic investigations is now treated with considerable caution and scepticism by many authorities, including the police. However, the present paper re‐examines some of the procedures employed in hypnotic interviewing that might still be useful in the development of brief memory facilitation procedures. In particular, a brief focused breathing meditation (FM) technique is described that uses elements common to hypnotic induction, but divorced from the context label of ‘hypnosis’. An experiment is described using this technique to aid face identification. As in other recent studies conducted by the authors, this procedure showed a memory facilitation effect, though without the increase in false positive errors familiar to more traditional hypnosis techniques; indeed, the trends were for FM to produce fewer false positive errors. Implications are discussed. Copyright © 2004 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis