Recomendaciones para la evaluación forense del testimonio en casos de falsas memorias
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5944/ap.20.2.39310Palabras clave:
falsa memoria, testigo experto, memoria, toma de decisionesResumen
Se presenta una revisión de casos judiciales surgidos a partir de 1980 conocidos como ‘Casos de abuso en guarderías’. En estos casos, las presuntas víctimas fueron entrevistadas con un interrogatorio altamente sugestivo, lo que dio lugar a probables falsas memorias y a condenas erróneas. Además, se discute un caso italiano en el que un terapeuta ha sido recientemente condenado en relación con las falsas memorias. En concreto, el terapeuta fue condenado por implantar falsas memorias de abusos sexuales en una adolescente mediante técnicas sugestivas con el fin de ‘recobrar recuerdos que consideraba reprimidos en el inconsciente. Con estos casos en mente, se presenta una revisión de las recomendaciones para la evaluación forense que se están proponiendo en otros países europeos para la evaluación de casos judiciales en los que pudieran estar implicadas falsas memorias o entrevistas sugestivas. Así, se recomienda utilizar un enfoque de construcción de escenarios alternativos, un análisis en profundidad del contexto de la revelación del abuso y la participación de un experto adicional que actúe como revisor del informe. Además, se incluye una revisión de una serie de recomendaciones destinadas a la mejora de la redacción de los informes periciales. Todas estas recomendaciones contribuirían a reducir los sesgos cognitivos que pueden afectar a la evaluación, tanto antes como durante la misma. Se incluyen las implicaciones que la adopción de estas recomendaciones podría tener, tanto para el sistema judicial como para los individuos que sufren este tipo de situaciones, como la reducción de las condenas erróneas. Por último, se destaca la necesidad de crear espacios de asistencia a las víctimas de falsas memorias. Además, se recomienda encarecidamente la creación de comités de expertos que puedan asistir a los tribunales en casos equívocos, en los que se hayan detectado posibles influencias sugestiva
Descargas
Citas
Arce, R. (2017). Content Analysis of the Witness Statements: Evaluation of the Scientific and Judicial Validity of the Hypothesis and the Forensic Proof [Análisis de contenido de las declaraciones de testigos: Evaluación de la validez científica y judicial de la hipótesis y la prueba forense]. Acción Psicológica, 14(2), 171–190. https://doi.org/10.5944/ap.14.2.21347
Arce, R., Selaya, A., Sanmarco, J., & Fariña, F. (2023). Implanting Rich Autobiographical False Memories: Meta-analysis for Forensic Practice and Judicial Judgment Making. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 23(4), Article 100386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2023.100386
Bernstein, D. M. & Loftus, E. F. (2009). How to Tell if a Particular Memory is True or False. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4(4), 370–374. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6924.2009.01140.x
Brackmann, N., Otgaar, H., Sauerland, M., & Jelicic, M. (2016). When Children are the Least Vulnerable to False Memories: A True Report or a Case of Autosuggestion? Journal of Forensic Sciences, 61(S1), S271–S275. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.12926
Bruck, M. (2009). Human Figure Drawings and Children's Recall of Touching. Journal of Experimental Psychology Applied, 15(4), 361–374. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017120
Butler, E. W., Fukurai, H., Dimitrius, J., & Krooth, R. (2001). Anatomy of the McMartin Child Molestation Case. University Press of America.
Calado, B. (2022). Revictimisation and False Memory Formation [Doctoral thesis, Maastricht University, Netherlands]. https://doi.org/10.26481/dis.20220520bc
Dror, I. E. & Kukucka, J. (2021). Linear Sequential Unmasking-Expanded (LSU-E): A General Approach for Improving Decision Making as Well as Minimizing Noise and Bias. Forensic Science International: Synergy, 3, 100161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2021.100161
Eurostat (2022). Immigration by Citizenship, 2020. Eurostat.
Gancedo, Y., Fariña, F., Seijo, D., Vilariño, M., & Arce, R. (2021). Reality Monitoring: A Meta-Analytical Review for Forensic Practice. European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context, 13(2), 99–110. https://doi.org/10.5093/ejpalc2021a10
Goodman, G. S. & Quas, J. A. (2008). Repeated Interviews and Children's Memory: It's more than just how Many. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 17(6), 386–390. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2008.00611.x
Gudjonsson, G. H. (2021). The Science-based Pathways to Understanding False Confessions and Wrongful Convictions. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 633936. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.633936
Hoyle, C., Speechley, N.-E., & Burnett, R. (2016). The Impact of Being Wrongly Accused of Abuse in Occupations of Trust: Victims' voices. University of Oxford. https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxlaw/the_impact_of_being_wrongly_accused_of_abuse_hoyle_speechley_burnett_final_26_may.pdf
Korkman, J., Juulosa, A., & Santtila, P. (2014). Who Made the Disclosure? Recorded Discussions between Children and Caregivers Suspecting Child Abuse. Psychology, Crime & Law, 20, 994–1004. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2014.902455
Laney, C. & Loftus, E. F. (2013). Recent Advances in False Memory Research. South African Journal of Psychology, 43(2), 137–146. https://doi.org/10.1177/0081246313484236
Lilienfeld, S. O. (2007). Psychological Treatments that Cause Harm. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2(1), 53–70. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6916.2007.00029.x
Loftus, E. F. (2005). Planting Misinformation in the Human Mind: A 30-year Investigation of the Malleability of Memory. Learning & Memory, 12, 361–366. https://learnmem.cshlp.org/content/12/4/361.full.pdf+html
Laney, C. & Loftus, E. F. (2005). Traumatic Memories are not Necessarily Accurate Memories. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry/Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie, 50(13), 823–828. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674370505001303
Loftus, E. F. & Bernstein, D. M. (2005). Rich False Memories: The Royal Road to Success. In A. F. Healy (Ed.), Experimental Cognitive Psychology and its Applications (pp. 101–113). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10895-008
Loftus, E. F. & Davis, D. (2006). Recovered Memories. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 2, 469–498. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.2.022305.095315
Loftus, E. F. & Pickrell, J. E. (1995). The Formation of False Memories. Psychiatric Annals, 25, 720–725. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.3928/0048-5713-19951201-07
McNally, R. J. (2003). Recovering Memories of Trauma: A View from the Laboratory. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12(1), 32–35. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.01217
McNally, R. J. (2005). Debunking Myths about Trauma and Memory. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry/Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie, 50(13), 817–822. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674370505001302
Murrie, D. C., Boccaccini, M. T., Guarnera, L. A., & Rufino, K. A. (2013). Are Forensic Experts Biased by the Side that Retained them? Psychological Science, 24(10), 1889–1897. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613481812
Nierop, N., van den Eshof, P., & Brandt, C. (2021). A Practical Approach to Sexual Abuse Allegations: Netherlands Expert Committee for Equivocal Sexual Abuse Allegations. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 28(6), 841–853. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2021.1873203
Novo, M. & Seijo, D. (2010). Judicial Judgement-making and Legal Criteria of Testimonial Credibility. European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context, 2(2), 91–115.
Otgaar, H., Curci, A., Mangiulli, I., Battista, F., Rizzotti, E., & Sartori, G. (2022). A Court Ruled Case on Therapy-Induced False Memories. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 67(5), 2122–2129. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.15073
Otgaar, H., Houben, S., & Howe, M. L. (2018). Methods of Studying False Memory. Research Methods in Human Memory. Routledge.
Otgaar, H., Houben, S. T. L., Rassin, E., & Merckelbach, H. (2021). Memory and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy: A Potentially Risky Combination in the Courtroom, Memory, 29(9), 1254–1262. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2021.1966043
Otgaar, H., Howe, M. L., & Patihis, L. (2022). What Science Tells us about False and Repressed Memories. Memory, 30(1), 16–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2020.1870699
Otgaar, H., Howe, M. L., Patihis, L., Merckelbach, H., Lynn, S. J., Lilienfeld, S. O., & Loftus, E. F. (2019). The Return of the Repressed: The Persistent and Problematic Claims of Long-Forgotten Trauma. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 14(6), 1072–1095. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691619862306
Otgaar, H., de Ruiter, C., Howe, M. L., Hoetmer, L., & van Reekum, P. (2017). A Case Concerning Children’s False Memories of Abuse: Recommendations Regarding Expert Witness Work. Psychiatry, Psychology, and Law, 24(3), 365–378. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2016.1230924
Patihis, L., Otgaar, H., Lynn, S. J., Loftus, E. F., & McNally, R. J. (2022). The Recovered Memory Debate: Wins, Losses, and creating Future Open-Minded Skeptics. In C. Cobb, S. J. Lynn, & W. O'Donohue (Eds.), Toward a Science of Clinical Psychology (pp. 377–394). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14332-8_19
Poole, D. A. & Bruck, M. (2012). Divining Testimony? The Impact of Interviewing Props on Children's Reports of Touching. Developmental Review, 32(3), 165–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2012.06.007
Quigley-McBride, A., Dror, I. E., Roy, T., Garrett, B. L., & Kukucka, J. (2022). A Practical Tool for Information Management in Forensic Decisions: Using Linear Sequential Unmasking-Expanded (LSU-E) in Casework. Forensic Science International: Synergy, 4, Article 100216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100216
Rossen, B. (1992). Response to the Oude Pekela incident and the accusations of Drs. F. Jonker and I. Jonker-Bakker. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 20(3), 263–266. https://doi.org/10.1177/009164719202000321
Schreiber, N., Bellah, L. D., Martinez, Y., McLaurin, K. A., Strok, R., Garven, S., & Wood, J. M. (2007). Suggestive Interviewing in the McMartin Preschool and Kelly Michaels Daycare Abuse Cases: A Case Study. Social Influence, 1(1), 16–47. https://doi.org/10.1080/15534510500361739
Scoboria, A., Wade, K. A., Lindsay, D. S., Azad, T., Strange, D., Ost, J., & Hyman, I. E. (2017). A Mega-Analysis of Memory Reports from Eight Peer-Reviewed False Memory Implantation Studies. Memory, 25(2), 146–163. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2016.1260747
Selaya, A., Sanmarco, J., & Arce, R. (2020). Estimación de la conformidad en el testimonio: Una revisión meta-analítica [Estimating the Effects of Conformity in Testimony: A Meta-Analytic Review]. In A. M. Martín, F. Fariña, & R. Arce (Eds.), Legal and Forensic Psychology: Research for Professional Practice. Psychology and Law Collection, 16 (pp. 69–80). Walter de Gruyter. https://minerva.usc.es/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10347/30598/2020_arce_psi-ley_vol_16.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Selaya, A., Sanmarco, J., & Arce, R. (2021). Contraste de la probabilidad de la implantación de falsas memorias claras y parciales: Un estudio meta-analítico [Contrasting the Probability of the Implantation of Clear and Partial False Memories: A Meta-Analytic Study]. In L. Rodríguez Franco, D. Seijo, & F. Fariña (Eds.), Ciencia Psicológica al Servicio de la Justicia y la Ley. Colección Psicología y Ley, No. 17 (pp. 27–40). Spanish Society of Legal and Forensic Psychology. http://sepjf.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Serie-n%C2%BA17-Ciencia-psicol%C3%B3gica-al-servicio-de-la-justicia-y-la-ley.pdf
Shaw J., Leonte M., Ball G., & Felstead K. (2017, May). When is the Issue of False Memory Raised in Historical Child Sexual Abuse Allegations? An Archival Study of 496 British Cases. Paper presented at the meeting of the European Association of Psychology and Law, Mechelen, Belgium.
Underwager, R. & Wakefield, H. (1990). The Real World of Child Interrogations. Charles C. Thomas.
van Koppen, P. J. (2007). Miscarriages of Justice in Inquisitorial and Accusatorial Legal Systems. Journal of the Institute of Justice and International Studies, 7, 50–58. https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/jijis7&div=12&id=&page=
Vilariño, M., Fariña, F., & Arce, R. (2009). Discriminating Real Victims from Feigners of Psychological Injury in Gender Violence: Validating a Protocol for Forensic Setting. European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context, 1(2), 221–243. http://sepjf.webs.uvigo.es/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=19&Itemid=110&lang=es
Volbert, R. & Steller, M. (2014). Is this Testimony Truthful, Fabricated, or Based on False Memory? Credibility Assessment 25 years after Steller and Köhnken (1989). European Psychologist, 19(3), 207–220. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000200
Vredeveldt, A., Rosmalen, E. A. J., Van Koppen, P. J., Dror, I. E., & Otgaar, H. (2022). Legal Psychologists as Experts: Guidelines for Minimizing Bias. Psychology, Crime, & Law. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2022.2114476
Vrij, A., Palena, N., Leal, S., & Caso, L. (2021). The Relationship between complications, Common Knowledge Details and Self-Handicapping Strategies and Veracity: A Meta-Analysis. European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context, 13(2), 55–77. https://doi.org/10.5093/ejpalc2021a7
Descargas
Publicado
Cómo citar
Número
Sección
Licencia
Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial 4.0.
