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The role of psychologists, both in the courtroom and at the crime scene, is rapidly expanding. Surveying a wide range of international court cases, The Popular Policeman and Other Cases explores the critical—and often misunderstood—intersection of psychology and law. The authors, both expert psychologists with extensive experience in the courtroom, are quite familiar with the fundamental differences between the law and psychology as an empirical science. As well as dealing with well-known and controversial issues such as recovered memories or false confessions, The Popular Policeman and Other Cases examines a variety of less traditional criminal topics, including illegal gambling, trademark litigation, and the perils of risky courtship behavior. Each chapter reviews an actual case, appraises the relevant scientific research, and then demonstrates how psychological insights were introduced within the courtroom. The authors conclude by noting the outcome of each case—and how their research played a role in the decision. With its detailed investigation of the complex links between psychological research and its eventual application in the courtroom, The Popular Policeman and Other Cases fills a critical vacancy. It is virtually impossible for researchers to make significant progress within the field of law and psychology without experience as expert witnesses in actual trials. This casebook will be essential for their studies. (20050324)
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Willem Albert Wagenaar is honorary professor of psychology at Utrecht University and professor of psychology at Leiden University, who specialises in witness reliability, and was a court expert in the Jerusalem trial of John Demjanjuk. Hans Crombag is emeritus professor of psychology of law at the universities of Maastricht and Antwerp. This book is a most welcome addition to the literature on law and psychology. The work of two distinguished psychologists, it is authoritative, insightful, concrete, and eminently readable. William Twining, Professor of Jurisprudence, University College, London The Popular Policeman and Other Cases is a rare find: a book that is both good science and a good read. John Monahan, Professor of Law, University of Virginia
ISBN 90 5356 770 4
www.aup.nl
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Wagenaar | Crombag
Wagenaar and Crombag display eloquence as writers, and their flair for narrative combined with faithfulness to science makes this book a remarkable work on psychology and law. Elizabeth Loftus, Past President, American Psychological Society
Willem Albert Wagenaar Hans Crombag
The Popular Policeman and Other Cases
In this compelling title, two distinguished scholars share their experiences as expert witnesses in cases ranging from eyewitness testimony, person identification and recovered memories, to false confessions, collaborative storytelling and causal attribution, in the context of various interrogation techniques and their ability to deliver reliable results. Each chapter of The Popular Policeman and Other Cases describes in lucid, entertaining prose a representative case in the context of scholarly literature to date, showing how psychological expertise has been (and can be) used in a legal setting. The cases include petty and serious crime, from illegal gambling, infringed trademarks and risqué courtship behaviour, to honour killing and death on the climbing wall. The authors’ findings and recommendations apply to legal systems worldwide. There is no other English-language textbook covering a similarly wide range of offences, and this volume will fill a gap in the existing literature and demonstrate how psychological expertise can be used in a much larger area than is often realised.
The Popular Policeman and Other Cases Psychological Perspectives on Legal Evidence
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