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The Psychology of Belief 'Art II: Perception, Memory and the Courtroom

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The Psychology of Belief 'Art II: Perception, Memory and the Courtroom 1994 CSICOP Conference Our coverage of the 1994 CSICOP conference in Seattle, Washington, June 23-26, begun in our last issue, continues. The Psychology of Belief 'art II: Perception, Memory and the Courtroom TOM GENONI, JR. How We Fool Ourselves: inventor Jerry Andrus. Based on the con- ly described the "rubber rulers" of per- Anomalies of Perception and cept that perceptions are easily altered by ception that humans stretch to fit their Interpretation expectations, Andrus has created many subjective measure of reality. "What we optical illusions and magic tricks that should be using, wherever possible, are the objective rulers of science that resist Introducing the session focusing on fool the observer. "Each person paints theirbein picturg stretchee of d realitor shruny witk ht o afit bruswhaht we how we fool ourselves, Barry dipped in the pigments of the past," he want it to be. These rulers may not be Beyerstein, a professor of psychology at said. with a simple demonstration using perfect, but unlike ours, are made not of Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, what appeared to be a deck of cards (but rubber, but of the laws of the universe." British Columbia, emphasized that which he revealed was really a thick piece "so-called simple perceptions are any- of Plexiglas), Andrus illustrated how the Susan Blackmore, senior lecturer in thing but simple" and that what we see assumptions we make about reality, psychology at the University of the is not always the true nature of reality. based on years of West of England, in Bristol, described Perception is a cre- ordinary, day-to-day some of the research she has conducted ative act that experiences, often on out-of-body and near-death experi- involves not only lead us to "see" ences. Blackmore contends that these the purely sensory things that do not phenomena reveal a great deal about apparatus of the exist. In another the way our minds operate. She brain but also such example of playing explained that when humans approach things as memory, with expectations, death, the brain releases endorphins, emotion, and our Andrus removed the which can produce a morphinelike hopes and fears. glasses he had been pleasure and a random firing of neu- Often we fill in our wearing since the rons. These physiological occurrences observations of real- beginning of his may result in the often reported tunnel ity with the way we talk, admitting: images, bright lights, and many other think tilings should "They contain no bizarre "out-of-body" effects. be, based on our glass. I wear con- Blackmore also posed questions expectations. And tacts." Accompanied about the nature of the self, which con- when these misper- Jerry Andrus amazes the audience by abundant laugh- structs a reality based on perception. ceptions become with his tricks and illusionster and. applause, Andrus continued his As the body shuts down, the mind is part of our memory, Beyerstein con- performance with a number of large rapidly unable to sustain a model of "I" cluded, they can affect new perceptions optical illusions that he manipulated to based on its usual conception of reality. and interpretations. produce further false perceptions. The out-of-body experience, Blackmore The idea that "so-called simple per- suggests, may be "a crude attempt by the brain to hang on to the idea of self." ceptions are anything but simple" was Andrus also read a short commen- dramatically illustrated by magician and tary, "How Sees the Mind?" It poetical- Elizabeth Loftus, a professor of psy- SKEPTICAL INQUIRER • MARCH/APRIL 1995 7 CSICOP - -^- Conference chology at me University of Washington, tice dilutes and trivializes the experience and action" because of his broad range in Seattle, is a well-known expert on eye- of true abuse survivors and increases of scientific study and knowledge, Carl witness testimony, and her recent work their suffering." Sagan, the astronomer and author, examining the malleability of memory has In addition to the scheduled speakers, focused his keynote address on the provided many insights into me repressed James Randi and his assistant, Jose importance of scientific understand- memory debate. (See her article Alvarez, played a videotaped segment of ing. Stressing the predictive power of "Remembering Dangerously" in this issue.) an Australian "60 Minutes" T V segment. science and the significant role it plays In some of her studies, Loftus said, she suc- As the host of the show explained, a chan- in so many aspects of our culture, ceeded in altering her subjects' memories nelcr named Jos£ had been making a Sagan affirmed our responsibility to of some details of scenes they had wit- name for himself by demonstrating his educate society about its function. "We have a civilization based on science and nessed, through the use apparent ability to technology and have cleverly arranged of misleading question- channel an ancient things so that almost no one under- ing misinformation, spirit named Carlos. stands science and technology," he and suggestion. Another Appearing with his said. He also warned that it "is a clear study, using a series of sleazy manager on prescription for disaster" if the circum- crime scenarios, revealed numerous TV talk- stances are not changed. an even larger fre- shows, Jose" would quency of false memo- enter a strange trance Sagan praised the role of CSICOP ries in her test groups. and begin to slouch and the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER in expos- But could a memory over. Just as his heart ing unfounded scientific claims but of an entire event that rate would slow to a cautioned skeptics against establishing never happened be near-death level (always an "us versus them" mentality by ridi- created using these being monitored by a culing and belittling paranormal tactics? Elizabeth Loftus reports her findings competent physician), believers. He also encouraged compas- in studies involving memory and Loftus attempted me exuberant spirit of sion for those who succumb to the eyewitness testimony. to create in the mind Carlos would dramat- tricks of pseudoscientific con-artists simply because they are not well versed of a teenage subject named Chris the ically e m e r g e t o offer his w o r d s o f wisdom. in science, magic, and skepticism. memory of being separated from his The Carlos mania culminated in an family in a mall ten years previously appearance to a near-capacity crowd at the Sagan also discussed the rigid stan- and being found by an older man. Sydney Opera House. dards of scientific scrutiny, the complex Chris entered this alleged incident in a As you may have guessed, Carlos is struggle of inquiry, the great rewards of daily journal and, gradually, he vividly not an ancient spirit. Carlos is a prod- discovery, and the vigorous and "remembered" and even expanded uct of James Randi's imagination, with uncompromising role of experimental upon the episode that Loftus had orig- a few tricks and some clever acting by testing in evaluating ideas. "And inally described to him. his good friend Jose" Alvarez. After Jose though it is no fun to be on the receiv- Regarding therapists and patients in would enter his trance and slow his ing end of skeptical questioning," clinical environments, Loftus said: "I pulse (by taping a small ball under his Sagan concluded, "it is the affordable price we pay for having such a powerful believe there is evidence that, in some biceps and then gently squeezing), tool as science." Sagan's keynote address cases, a significant amount of suggestion Randi would send the astounding was published in the January-February may be going o n . Could this kind of words of Carlos to a tiny speaker in 5/as "Wonder and Skepticism." suggestion act in a way that is similar to Jose's ear via a remote mike. It may not the suggestion we sec here?" Loftus has have been surprising that the examined evidence gathered by private Australian public was so eager to listen, Memory: How Reliable Is It? investigators and others who secretly but the ease with which Jose" (and taped their sessions with a therapist. In Carlos) was able to get such attention, Carol Tavris, a psychologist and author one instance, a therapist diagnosed publicity, and access to the press was from Los Angeles, opened the session "incest survivor" at the first meeting. disturbing. called "Memory: How Reliable Is It?" Loftus has received many disturbing let- by answering: "Not very." Tavris has ters from families who have been torn Carl Sagan's Keynote Address recently examined the "pop-psych" apart after a member of the family books about recovered memory. She "recovered" abuse memories during Introduced to the standing-room-only found there was "no overlap" between therapy sessions. Loftus concluded: "I audience by CSICOP Chairman Paul what the books were promoting and think that this kind of activity and prac- Kurtz as a "Leonardo man of thought what the academic researchers were SKEPTICAL INQUIRER • MARCH/APRIL 1995 9 CSICOP Conference discovering. Tavris metaphorically year during the thirties, forties, and concluded: "Back in those old times it described memory as a putting togeth- fifties. "We are in the midst of a crisis," was really hard to convince some peo- er of tattered pieces that were initially Ofshe said. "[Therapists] are subject- ple that memory just isn't very reliable." experienced as seamless. ing people to the closest thing to the Stephen Ceci, a professor of psy- experience of rape and brutalization CSICOP and the Law chology at Cornell University, and the that can ever be done without actually sessions first speaker, was praised by touching them." He pointed out that At a luncheon talk, Brenton VetPloeg, Tavris for his extensive research on some of these harmful persuasion tech- an attorney with the Miami law firm of memory.
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