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Scientists Have Passions Outside the Lab. We Should Embrace That
In August, I contemplated revealing a personal secret about a postdoc in my lab. But before I did, I reached out to the postdoc, Victoria, to ask for permission: “Do you want me do a Twitter thread about you and your new book? Or would you prefer to keep your two identities separate?” Five days later, Victoria responded: “I haven’t replied yet because I’m so torn! What is your perspective on whether it could be bad to have academics know about my writing life?” After a back and forth, we decided it would be OK for me to share the good news—which was simply that Victoria had published a new book. This might seem like a small ordeal.
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They Never Forget a Face. Research Delves into How ‘Super-Recognizers’ Can Do This.
Super-recognizers never forget a face. They need to focus on it only once to instantly recognize it again, even if they encounter it years later, and sometimes even if they see only one feature, such as the eyes. They also can get a pretty good idea of what a face looks like in profile if they initially see it straight on. Most ordinary people see faces differently. Their brains take a frontal facial snapshot, which usually is how they remember it — if they can remember it at all.
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The (Literally) Effortless Way to Learn Faster and Improve Your Memory, Backed by Science
We all have things we need to remember. A pitch. A presentation. Material for a test. So you study. You read and re-read. And highlight. And re-read again. You devote what at least feel like endless hours to the pursuit of knowledge and recall. And even if you do manage to remember what you needed to remember, still: The process of learning took way too much time and effort. If that sounds like you -- because it certainly sounds like me -- science has the solution.
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Ask the Witness Only Once
In the latest edition of PSPI, researchers look at the problems with eyewitness misidentifications in the courtroom and explain why prosecutors and law enforcement should test a witness’s memory of a suspect only once.
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One and Done: Researchers Urge Testing Eyewitness Memory Only Once
To prevent wrongful convictions, only the first identification of a suspect should be considered, according to the latest issue of Psychological Science in the Public Interest.
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Test a Witness’s Memory of a Suspect Only Once
Psychological Science in the Public Interest (Online Supplemental Issue)Read the Full Text (PDF, HTML) In the courtroom, eyewitnesses usually identify defendants as crime culprits with high confidence, regardless of how correct they are. Unfortunately, juries and judges tend to interpret eyewitness confidence on the stand as an indicator of accuracy, which can result in wrongful convictions.
