28th International Congress of Psychology August 8 ... - U-netSURF

problems mentioned above.
1052 INVITED SYMPOSIUM
Offenders’ memories of violent crimes
Convener and Chair: S. Christianson, Sweden
Co-convener: J. Yuille, Canada
1052.1 Perpetrators’ memories for violence: Perspectives from a biopsychosocial theory of
eyewitness memory, J. Yuille, B. Cooper, H. Hervé, University of British Columbia, Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada
As no published theoretical model can explain the variability associated with eyewitness recall, we
recently developed a biopsychosocial theory of eyewitness memory (Herve, Cooper, Yuille, &
Daylen, 2002; 2003). This theory suggests that a combination of predisposing (e.g., arousal
sensitivity, psychopathology), precipitating (e.g., type of event, dissociation), and perpetuating
(e.g., recall history, context) biopsychosocial variables interact to influence eyewitness recall.
Perspectives from this theory will be applied to the perpetrator context in an attempt to explain
how different memorial patterns (e.g., remarkable memories, dissociative amnesia) can manifest
after similar events. Implications for eyewitness memory research in offenders will be discussed.
1052.2 Violent offenders’ memories for instrumental and reactive violence, B. Cooper, J.
Yuille, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Although some research has examined victims’ and witnesses’ memories for violent crimes, little
research has investigated perpetrators’ memories for their violent crimes. One hundred and fifty
Canadian, male, violent offenders were interviewed about their past acts of violence. Their
memories were exhausted with the Yuille Step-Wise investigative interview protocol and state and
trait variables associated with eyewitness recall were assessed (e.g., delay, rehearsal, dissociation,
affect, PTSD symptoms, psychopathy). Preliminary findings suggest that acts of instrumental
violence are remembered better than acts of reactive violence. The results will be discussed in
terms of implications for cognitive psychology and the criminal justice system.
1052.3 Psychiatric prison inmates who claim amnesia, M. Cima, K. van Oorsouw, H.
Merckelbach, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
The current study explored characteristics of psychiatric prison inmates who claim amnesia for
their crimes. We examined differences in intelligence, psychopathology, executive functions, and
malingering tendencies between psychiatric prison inmates who claimed amnesia (n = 17) and
those who did not (n = 45). Findings indicate that lowered levels of intelligence, heightened levels
of antisocial psychopathology, and relatively poor performance on executive tasks accompany
claims of amnesia. Also, amnesia claims were accompanied with heightened scores on an
instrument intending to measure malingering. In addition, in two cases the Symptom Validity Test
(SVT) was administered. Results of these cases will be discussed.
1052.4 Are amnesic homicide offenders liars? S. Christianson 1 , E. von Vogelsang 2 , H.
Merckelbach 3 , L. Leander 4 , P.A. Granhag 4 , 1 Stockholms universitet, Stockholm, Sweden;
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