Inaugural Lerman-Neubauer Lecture

Psychology and Law: Or What Really Goes on at Crime Scenes, Police Stations, and the Courthouse

From legal novels and television serials to media coverage of each so-called “Trial of the Century,” Americans have an insatiable curiosity for the machinations of our legal system. Samuel R. Sommers, Assistant Professor of Psychology and the 2007 recipient of the Lerman-Neubauer Award for Excellence in Teaching, offers an examination of the ways in which our legal system hinges on matters of human cognition and behavior. He will explore how police investigators detect deception, the accuracy of eyewitness memory, and factors that influence jury decision-making. In short, he will discuss how assumptions made in legal circles are often at odds with theory and research in the field of psychology.

When: April 24, 2008 | 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Where: Cabot Auditorium, Medford Campus