<strong>Orne</strong> 1979 IJCEHhttp://www.sas.upenn.edu/psych/history/orne/orneijceh19794311341.html18 de 23 19/03/2012 17:24vastly different, <strong>and</strong> we must guard aga<strong>in</strong>st be<strong>in</strong>g coopted--witt<strong>in</strong>gly or unwitt<strong>in</strong>gly--by prosecution ordefense. In the long run, the only expert who can help the adm<strong>in</strong>istration <strong>of</strong> justice is one who is able toma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> an <strong>in</strong>dependent perspective rather than see himself as work<strong>in</strong>g for either the defense or theprosecution.Safeguards for the Forensic Use <strong>of</strong> Hypnosis<strong>The</strong> <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>hypnosis</strong> <strong>and</strong> related techniques to facilitate memory raises pr<strong>of</strong>ound, complex questions, <strong>and</strong>it is likely that the <strong>in</strong>dividual will be protected only if these issues are dealt with at the highest level <strong>of</strong> our<strong>court</strong> system. <strong>The</strong>re are <strong>in</strong>stances when <strong>hypnosis</strong> can be <strong>use</strong>d appropriately provided that the nature <strong>of</strong> thephenomenon is understood by all parties concerned. It must be recognized, however, that the <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>hypnosis</strong> by either the prosecution or the defense can pr<strong>of</strong>oundly affect the <strong>in</strong>dividual's subsequenttestimony. S<strong>in</strong>ce these changes are not reversible, if <strong>in</strong>dividuals are to be allowed to testify after hav<strong>in</strong>gundergone <strong>hypnosis</strong> to aid their memory, a m<strong>in</strong>imum number <strong>of</strong> safeguards are absolutely essential. Basedupon extensive review <strong>of</strong> the field <strong>and</strong> my own experiences <strong>in</strong> a considerable number <strong>of</strong> circumstances, Ihave proposed the follow<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>imal safeguards <strong>in</strong> an affidavit (<strong>Orne</strong>, 1978) <strong>in</strong> the case <strong>of</strong> Quagl<strong>in</strong>o v.California (1978) which was filed with the Supreme Court <strong>of</strong> the United States.91. Hypnosis should be carried out by a psychiatrist or psychologist with special tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> its <strong>use</strong>. He should not be <strong>in</strong>formedabout the facts <strong>of</strong> the case verbally; rather, he should receive a written memoran-9 A recent Wiscons<strong>in</strong> Circuit Court op<strong>in</strong>ion by Judge Wedemeyer <strong>in</strong> the case <strong>of</strong> State v. White (1979)explicates <strong>and</strong> exp<strong>and</strong>s upon these safeguards (Slip op<strong>in</strong>ion, Pp. 11-13).336 MARTIN T. ORNEdum outl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g whatever facts he is to know, carefully avoid<strong>in</strong>g any other communication which might affect his op<strong>in</strong>ion. Thus, hisbeliefs <strong>and</strong> possible bias can be evaluated. It is extremely undesirable to have the <strong>in</strong>dividual conduct<strong>in</strong>g the hypnotic sessions tohave any <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>vestigation <strong>of</strong> the case. Further, he should be an <strong>in</strong>dependent pr<strong>of</strong>essional not responsible to theprosecution or the <strong>in</strong>vestigators.2. All contact <strong>of</strong> the psychiatrist or psychologist with the <strong>in</strong>dividual to be hypnotized should be videotaped from the moment theymeet until the entire <strong>in</strong>teraction is completed. <strong>The</strong> casual comments which are passed before or after <strong>hypnosis</strong> are every bit asimportant to get on tape as the hypnotic session itself. (It is possible to give suggestions prior to the <strong>in</strong>duction <strong>of</strong> <strong>hypnosis</strong> whichwill act as posthypnotic suggestions.)Prior to the <strong>in</strong>duction <strong>of</strong> <strong>hypnosis</strong>, a brief evaluation <strong>of</strong> the patient should be carried out <strong>and</strong> the psychiatrist or psychologistshould then elicit a detailed description <strong>of</strong> the facts as the witness or victim remembers them. This is important beca<strong>use</strong><strong>in</strong>dividuals <strong>of</strong>ten are able to recall a good deal more while talk<strong>in</strong>g to a psychiatrist or psychologist than when they are with an<strong>in</strong>vestigator, <strong>and</strong> it is important to have a record <strong>of</strong> what the witness's beliefs are before <strong>hypnosis</strong>. Only after this has beencompleted should the hypnotic session be <strong>in</strong>itiated. <strong>The</strong> psychiatrist or psychologist should strive to avoid add<strong>in</strong>g any newelements to the witness's description <strong>of</strong> his experience, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g those which he had discussed <strong>in</strong> his wake state, lest he<strong>in</strong>advertently alter the nature <strong>of</strong> the witness's memories--or constra<strong>in</strong> them by rem<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g him <strong>of</strong> his wak<strong>in</strong>g memories.3. No one other than the psychiatrist or psychologist <strong>and</strong> the <strong>in</strong>dividual to be hypnotized should be present <strong>in</strong> the room before <strong>and</strong>dur<strong>in</strong>g the hypnotic session. This is important beca<strong>use</strong> it is all too easy for observers to <strong>in</strong>advertently communicate to the subjectwhat they expect, what they are startled by, or what they are disappo<strong>in</strong>ted by. If either the prosecution or the defense wish toobserve the hypnotic session, they may do so without jeopardiz<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>tegrity <strong>of</strong> the session through a one-way screen or on atelevision monitor.4. Beca<strong>use</strong> the <strong>in</strong>teractions which have preceded the hypnotic session may well have a pr<strong>of</strong>ound effect on the sessionsthemselves, tape record<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> prior <strong>in</strong>terrogations are important to document that a witness had not been implicitly or explicitlycued perta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g to certa<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation which might then be reported for apparently the first time by the witness dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>hypnosis</strong>.[<strong>Orne</strong>, 1978, Pp. 853-855]In sum, an effort has been made to outl<strong>in</strong>e some <strong>of</strong> the major issues that must be considered for theforensic <strong>use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>hypnosis</strong>, <strong>and</strong> particularly if hypnotically enhanced recall is to be <strong>use</strong>d <strong>in</strong> <strong>court</strong>. It ispossible to document, as has been done here, some <strong>of</strong> the circumstances where <strong>hypnosis</strong> has worked
<strong>Orne</strong> 1979 IJCEHhttp://www.sas.upenn.edu/psych/history/orne/orneijceh19794311341.html19 de 23 19/03/2012 17:24aga<strong>in</strong>st the judicial process. Much <strong>of</strong> what has been said about memory <strong>and</strong> <strong>hypnosis</strong> <strong>in</strong> this paper hasalready been documented empirically; however, further rigorous research is needed. Future work willneed to direct itself to the task <strong>of</strong> spell<strong>in</strong>g out the circumstances under which the likelihood <strong>of</strong>confabulation is maximized,337 USE AND MISUSE OF HYPNOSIS IN COURTthe specific effects which result from the hypnotist's preconceptions, the consequences <strong>of</strong> allow<strong>in</strong>g thereexperienc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> relevant affect as opposed to suppress<strong>in</strong>g it dur<strong>in</strong>g the process <strong>of</strong> recall, the differenteffects which <strong>hypnosis</strong> may have on the recall <strong>of</strong> different k<strong>in</strong>ds <strong>of</strong> material on the one h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> on theother to assess whether <strong>hypnosis</strong> has different effects <strong>in</strong> facilitat<strong>in</strong>g recall <strong>of</strong> material that was purposivelylearned as opposed to that <strong>in</strong>cidentally noted. At the present state <strong>of</strong> knowledge, it is relatively easy topo<strong>in</strong>t to some clear-cut ab<strong>use</strong>s <strong>and</strong> try to identify some relatively safe <strong>and</strong> appropriate applications <strong>of</strong><strong>hypnosis</strong>. As serious research addresses the question <strong>of</strong> the effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>hypnosis</strong> <strong>and</strong> the hypnotic context onmemory, it will become possible to be <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly specific about other circumstances where <strong>hypnosis</strong>may playa legitimate role as opposed to those where its <strong>use</strong> will serve only to further conf<strong>use</strong> an alreadybl<strong>in</strong>d justice.REFERENCESBARBER, T. X. Antisocial <strong>and</strong> crim<strong>in</strong>al acts <strong>in</strong>duced by "<strong>hypnosis</strong>": A review <strong>of</strong> experimental <strong>and</strong>cl<strong>in</strong>ical f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs. Arch. gen. Psychiat., 1961, 5, 301-312.BARBER, T. X., & CALVERLY, D. S. Empirical evidence for a theory <strong>of</strong> hypnotic behavior: Effects onsuggestibility <strong>of</strong> five variables typically <strong>in</strong>duced <strong>in</strong> hypnotic <strong>in</strong>duction procedures. J. consult. Psychol.,1965, 29, 98-107.BARTLETT, F. C. Remember<strong>in</strong>g. Cambridge: Cambridge Univer. Press, 1932.BREUER, J., & FREUD, S. Studies on hysteria. Vol. II. J. Strachey (Ed. <strong>and</strong> trans.), <strong>The</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ard edition<strong>of</strong> the complete psychological works <strong>of</strong> Sigmund Freud. London: Hogarth, 1955. (Orig. publ. 1895.)COE, W. C., KOBAYASHI, K., & HOWARD, M. L. An approach toward isolat<strong>in</strong>g factors that <strong>in</strong>fluenceantisocial conduct <strong>in</strong> <strong>hypnosis</strong>. Int. J. cl<strong>in</strong>. exp. Hypnosis, 1972, 20, 118-131.CONN, J. H. Is <strong>hypnosis</strong> really dangerous? Int. J. cl<strong>in</strong>. exp. Hypnosis, 1972, 20, 61-79.COOPER, L. M., & LONDON, P. Reactivation <strong>of</strong> memory by <strong>hypnosis</strong> <strong>and</strong> suggestion. Int. J. cl<strong>in</strong>. exp.Hypnosis, 1973, 21, 312-323.Crockett et al. v. Haithwaite et al., No. 297/73, (Sup. Ct., B.C. Can. February 10,1978; unrep.).DHANENS, T. P., & LUNDY, R. M. Hypnotic <strong>and</strong> wak<strong>in</strong>g suggestions <strong>and</strong> recall. Int. J. cl<strong>in</strong>. exp.Hypnosis, 1975, 23, 68-79.ELLENBERGER, H. F. <strong>The</strong> discovery <strong>of</strong> the unconscious. New York: Basic Books, 1970.EVANS, F. J., & KIHLSTROM, J. F. Posthypnotic amnesia as disrupted retrieval. J. abnorm. Psychol.,1973, 82, 317-323.HILGARD, E. R. Divided consciousness: Multiple controls <strong>in</strong> human thought <strong>and</strong> action. New York:Wiley, 1977.HILGARD, E. R., & LOFTUS, E. F. Effective <strong>in</strong>terrogation <strong>of</strong> the eyewitness. Int. J. cl<strong>in</strong>. exp. Hypnosis,1979, 27, 342-357.