Myths in Forensic Psychology

Myths can have a pervasive influence on our behaviour. Take, for instance, the myth that we only use 10% of our brain capacity. Many Hollywood movies revolve around this erroneous idea. However, myths can have truly dramatic consequences when they enter the forensic context, where they can lead to miscarriages of justice. In the current series of lectures, experts working in the forensic arena will talk about myths that frequently appear in the legal arena. For example, experts will talk about the usefulness of the polygraph in court or will discuss whether people can truly repress memories. Other experts will talk about the idea of people with photographic memories and discuss whether psychopaths are really untreatable. Knowledge about these myths is not only vital for those working in the forensic context. The forensic experts will show that many of these myths have their origin in situations that occur in our daily lives.