- Slovenia
Igor Areh
University of Maribor, Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, Faculty Member
Research Interests:
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Research Interests: Psychology and Physics
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Abstract Research shows that driver factors, particularly driver distraction, are the most common cause of traffic accidents. Among various visual distractions, objects such as advertisements that are commonly prevailing elements at the... more
Abstract Research shows that driver factors, particularly driver distraction, are the most common cause of traffic accidents. Among various visual distractions, objects such as advertisements that are commonly prevailing elements at the roadside, represent an important external distractor that may affect driving performance. Research findings on the influence that roadside signs or advertisements have on driver’s attention focus are not consistent. Therefore, with the application of eye-tracking technology, this research was designed to test several assumptions regarding drivers’ detection and perception of roadside elements. Seventeen volunteer participants, 19–76 years old, performed ten kilometres of urban driving, in which they were visually challenged with 56 traffic signs and 31 advertisements. It was found that drivers’ age is not associated with the number of roadside objects detected. Those drivers who detected more traffic signs were also more attentive to visual advertisements. Furthermore, a positive and large effect size between the number of detected street-level and raised-level advertisements was also found.
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... situations getting a speeding ticket from a police officer (Research I) and being involved in a traffic accident (Research II). The sample characteristics are evident in Table V. Questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 24... more
... situations getting a speeding ticket from a police officer (Research I) and being involved in a traffic accident (Research II). The sample characteristics are evident in Table V. Questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 24 variables, which were designed to establish citizens' ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Psychology, Cognitive Science, Law, Ethics, Courts, and 13 moreEconomic Justice, European Union, Evidence, European Court of Justice, Professional Standards, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Acceptability, European Community, Rorschach, Projective test, Forensic Assessment, Evidential Value, and Rorschach Test
ABSTRACT The research focused on sex differences in the accuracy and quantity of memory recall for specific details of an event. The respondent sample included 280 participants (57.5% females and 42.5% males) with an average age of... more
ABSTRACT The research focused on sex differences in the accuracy and quantity of memory recall for specific details of an event. The respondent sample included 280 participants (57.5% females and 42.5% males) with an average age of 19years. The participants were shown a two-minute recording of a violent robbery, supposedly captured by a surveillance camera, and told their help was needed in verifying hypotheses for the criminal investigation. The results have shown that, overall, females are more reliable eyewitnesses than males. Most notably, females outperformed males in the accuracy of person descriptions, particularly in victim descriptions. Males were more accurate in describing the event and also more confident in their memory, especially when describing the place of the incident. However, male confidence was unjustified because females showed a higher degree of accuracy also in place descriptions. The quantity of recalled details revealed no sex differences, probably because a checklist was used to evaluate memory recall.
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The first phase of the research project in which we try to establish the connection between personality characteristics and memory recall is presented. We are trying to develop a model which could be helpful in predicting the validity of... more
The first phase of the research project in which we try to establish the connection between personality characteristics and memory recall is presented. We are trying to develop a model which could be helpful in predicting the validity of eyewitness testimony. First, personality characteristics were measured using Eysenck’s personality test, then a short film about a physical attack and robbery was shown to participants, and finally, one week later, the memory recall was checked. On the basis of data gathered it is impossible to predict the quality of eyewitness testimony satisfactorily. However, other interesting results were established: the participants high on extroversion and low on neuroticism were more reliable as witnesses, the level of accuracy of memory recall depended on emotional stability, the participants with high neuroticism and psychoticism produced less accurate recall and the subjects with high psychoticism showed a weak response or smaller quantity of recalled data.
Research Interests:
Namen prispevka: Forenzicna psihologija je v Sloveniji slabo razvita in poznana, tako med psihologi kot tudi med strokovnjaki, ki delajo na podrocju pravosodja ali v policiji. V prispevku je zato na kratko predstavljen razvoj in v praksi... more
Namen prispevka: Forenzicna psihologija je v Sloveniji slabo razvita in poznana, tako med psihologi kot tudi med strokovnjaki, ki delajo na podrocju pravosodja ali v policiji. V prispevku je zato na kratko predstavljen razvoj in v praksi uporabne zmožnosti sodobne forenzicne psihologije. Metode: Clanek je nastal na osnovi pregleda in integracije spoznanj iz razlicnih strokovnih in znanstvenih virov, katerih avtorji so mednarodno priznani strokovnjaki, ki svoja dela objavljajo v recenziranih revijah in monografijah. Ugotovitve: Sodobna forenzicna psihologija ponuja veliko eksperimentalno preverjenega znanja, ki ga v tujini s pridom izkoriscajo, s cimer dosegajo vecjo ucinkovitost preiskovalnega dela in dela pravosodnih organov in tako, vsaj naceloma, omogocajo visjo stopnjo zascite nedolžnih osumljenih oseb. V Sloveniji je opazen nekajdesetletni zaostanek v razvitosti forenzicne psihologije, pri cemer je najmanjsi v akademskem okolju, velik in skrb vzbujajoc pa je v preiskovalni in sodni praksi, kjer je mogoce opaziti kriticno pomanjkanje psiholoskega znanja. Omejitve/uporabnost raziskave: Zaradi prostorske omejitve je veda predstavljena strnjeno, mnogo pomembnih informacij je zato izpuscenih. Bralec naj bi pridobil neko posploseno, približno predstavo o forenzicni psihologiji. Prakticna uporabnost: Nakazanih je kar nekaj tehnik in metod, ki so uporabne zlasti v preiskovanju kaznivih dejanj, pri cemer so navedene tudi najpomembnejse pomanjkljivosti le teh. Izvirnost/pomembnost prispevka: Clanek je namenjen sirjenju strokovnega obzorja in opozarja na zanemarjanje pomembnih spoznanj forenzicne psihologije.
Research Interests: Physics and Humanities
Research Interests:
Prispevki 21. konference Dnevi varstvoslovja prinasajo strokovni in znanstveni premislek o nacinih in virih za zagotavljanje varnosti sodobne družbe. V zborniku so zbrani napovedniki stirih okroglih miz in povzetki sestintridesetih... more
Prispevki 21. konference Dnevi varstvoslovja prinasajo strokovni in znanstveni premislek o nacinih in virih za zagotavljanje varnosti sodobne družbe. V zborniku so zbrani napovedniki stirih okroglih miz in povzetki sestintridesetih prispevkov, v katerih se avtorji lotevajo tematik kibernetske varnosti, pluralizacije policijske dejavnosti, policijskega dela v skupnosti, preprecevanja in prepoznavanja radikalizacije, varnosti v lokalnih skupnostih, razlicnih oblik nasilja, preiskovanja kaznivih dejanj, kriminologije, temeljnih pravic v policijskih postopkih, nadzora nad delom policije, kriminalisticne in varstvoslovne terminologije, detektivske dejavnosti, izvajanja kazenskih sankcij, sodobnih tehnologij pri zagotavljanju varnosti in drugih aktualnih varnostnih izzivov sodobne družbe.
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n recent decades, the trend or the need for an experience of the effect of immersion into theatre events, other branches of art, tourism, everyday business and private life has become quite evident. We are used to audio-visual... more
n recent decades, the trend or the need for an experience of the effect of immersion
into theatre events, other branches of art, tourism, everyday business and private life
has become quite evident. We are used to audio-visual communication, which, from the
Renaissance onwards, became the dominant channel for delivering messages, while other
senses became less important.
Until the middle of the 20th century, the role of smell in theatre practices was neglected,
and more important senses took over the place of communication and staging. Rarely
it was used as a direct prop, but always very carefully, because, according to many
experts, it cannot be controlled like sound and light. However, we have forgotten that
the smell, especially in combination with the sound, can have a strong emotional impact
on a spectator. Like the other senses, the scent recreates the context of memories and
can evoke an intense reliving of emotions and events. It can also provoke an evaluation
or re-evaluation of the past, thereby affecting the perception of the present. Reality is
perceived through the adaptation of sensory information, which is shaped and interpreted
under the influence of past experiences. Experiences create expectations, and expectations
create our subjective reality considering everyday life and theatrical performance. This
relationship is especially noticeable in sensorial theatre.
In the last decade, an effort has been made to bring scents and other tools of sensorial
theatre back to the stage, just as – according to foreign sources – they were an important
part of events in antiquity. In this way, the stage can be enriched with an additional
dimension of communication and expression. The paper presents various methods and
experiments on the use of scent and other tools of sensorial theatre, evaluating their
phenomenology and effectiveness from the perspective of the performing arts and
psychological science.
into theatre events, other branches of art, tourism, everyday business and private life
has become quite evident. We are used to audio-visual communication, which, from the
Renaissance onwards, became the dominant channel for delivering messages, while other
senses became less important.
Until the middle of the 20th century, the role of smell in theatre practices was neglected,
and more important senses took over the place of communication and staging. Rarely
it was used as a direct prop, but always very carefully, because, according to many
experts, it cannot be controlled like sound and light. However, we have forgotten that
the smell, especially in combination with the sound, can have a strong emotional impact
on a spectator. Like the other senses, the scent recreates the context of memories and
can evoke an intense reliving of emotions and events. It can also provoke an evaluation
or re-evaluation of the past, thereby affecting the perception of the present. Reality is
perceived through the adaptation of sensory information, which is shaped and interpreted
under the influence of past experiences. Experiences create expectations, and expectations
create our subjective reality considering everyday life and theatrical performance. This
relationship is especially noticeable in sensorial theatre.
In the last decade, an effort has been made to bring scents and other tools of sensorial
theatre back to the stage, just as – according to foreign sources – they were an important
part of events in antiquity. In this way, the stage can be enriched with an additional
dimension of communication and expression. The paper presents various methods and
experiments on the use of scent and other tools of sensorial theatre, evaluating their
phenomenology and effectiveness from the perspective of the performing arts and
psychological science.
Research Interests:
Scientific research on memory began at the end of 19th century with studies of semantic and/or long term memory. In most cases memory was interpreted as a storehouse for various data and the quality of the storehouse was usually defined... more
Scientific research on memory began at the end of 19th century with studies of semantic and/or long term memory. In most cases memory was interpreted as a storehouse for various data and the quality of the storehouse was usually defined by a quantity of recalled data. The research work was concentrated on specificity of the connection between memory and learning. At that time few authors developed theories which were rare, uncommon and before their time (e.g.: Bartlett, Ribot, Freud). Even after 20th century, when behavioural stimulus-response approach began to dominate, the measure of memory quality was still the quantity of memory recall. In the 1960th the rise of cognitive psychology began, the computer metaphor was born and finally the behavioural comprehension of cognitive system was surpassed. Cognitive system was understood as a computer-like interface between an organism and environment. In recent years the computer metaphor is no longer dominant. New and efficient concepts ...
Research Interests:
Purpose: This research sought to ascertain the stress levels that police officers face when they are promoted to a managerial position and, accordingly, whether or not they seek guidance or help. It also attempted to establish what... more
Purpose: This research sought to ascertain the stress levels that police officers face when they are promoted to a managerial position and, accordingly, whether or not they seek guidance or help. It also attempted to establish what symptoms of stress are manifested and the nature of the support that management personnel can expect from the police as an organization. Design/Methodology/Approach: The survey was conducted on 72 management officials working in police stations within Ljubljana's police directorate. All the participants were male and the majority of them were over 35 years of age. Findings: At least 68% of the police officers experienced their promotion as stressful, mainly because of increased bureaucracy, workload and a perception that their work was not appreciated. The most frequent symptoms of stress were insomnia, headaches and indigestion. Police officers felt that they lacked appropriate education/training, felt under-qualified for their particular role, and ...
Forensic assessments in Slovenia: The prevalent usage of questionable psychological tools
The research examines the efficiency of episodic memory in the context of eyewitness memory. The purpose of the research was to ascertain the connection between personality traits and memory recall, what may allow us to form a model of... more
The research examines the efficiency of episodic memory in the context of eyewitness memory. The purpose of the research was to ascertain the connection between personality traits and memory recall, what may allow us to form a model of reliability prediction of eyewitness testimony. It was hypothesized that high neuroticism, psychoticism and high introversion are connected with low accuracy and quantity of memory recall. Participants were undergraduate students (N = 280) between the ages of 18 and 21. Personality traits were measured by Eysencks' Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). After the application of questionnaire a video about a robbery assault on a female was shown. Seven days later the accuracy and quantity of memory recall were tested with an extensive checklist. It was established that extraversion is not correlated with memory recall in men, while in females a positive correlation was found. Among females, high neuroticism was correlated negatively with the accuracy and quantity of memory recall, and in men only a negative correlation with quantity of memory recall was found. All correlation coefficients were weak, therefore it was impossible to form an applicable model of reliability prediction of eyewitness testimony. The main weakness of the research presented was the sample anomaly, which was evident in noticeable deviation in the average level of extraversion when it was compared with the expected standard for the Slovenian population.
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For security and justice professionals (e.g., police officers, lawyers, judges), the thousands of peer-reviewed articles on nonverbal communication represent important sources of knowledge. However, despite the scope of the scientific... more
For security and justice professionals (e.g., police officers, lawyers, judges), the thousands of peer-reviewed articles on nonverbal communication represent important sources of knowledge. However, despite the scope of the scientific work carried out on this subject, professionals can turn to programs, methods, and approaches that fail to reflect the state of science. The objective of this article is to examine (i) concepts of nonverbal communication conveyed by these programs, methods, and approaches, but also (ii) the consequences of their use (e.g., on the life or liberty of individuals). To achieve this objective, we describe the scope of scientific research on nonverbal communication. A program (SPOT; Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques), a method (the BAI; Behavior Analysis Interview) and an approach (synergology) that each run counter to the state of science are examined. Finally, we outline five hypotheses to explain why some organizations in the fields of sec...
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Forensic assessments must be scientifically founded, because courts should obtain expert evidence with acceptable evidential value. In Slovenia, professional guidelines of forensic personality assessment are too general and not always in... more
Forensic assessments must be scientifically founded, because courts should obtain expert evidence with acceptable evidential value. In Slovenia, professional guidelines of forensic personality assessment are too general and not always in line with international professional recommendations. Thus, experts have no strict guidelines which would lead them to scientifically grounded expert opinions. The aim of the research was to establish which tests are employed in forensic assessment in Slovenia and to what extent the professional guidelines for expert opinions are followed. A total of 166 forensic personality assessments were reviewed, representing the majority of expert opinions issued in the period 2003-2018. The results of the analysis revealed that questionable projective tests are most commonly used. Typically, an expert opinion was rendered based on two tests, at least one of which was projective. What is more, expert opinions did not include hypotheses, in-text citations, reference lists, or proof of the expert witness's competence. The tests and their results were mentioned briefly and inadequately, without mention of their reliability and validity. Possible malingering of the person being evaluated was not detected. Professional guidelines were not followed and non-standardized tests without normative values and of questionable scientific merit were predominantly used, despite lack of proof that they truly measure what they claim to be measuring. These findings significantly differ from the results of similar research, raising serious concerns over the credibility of expert opinions in Slovenia.
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Zavedanje o uporabnosti psihologije počasi pronica tudi na področja, kjer je pri nas tradicionalno manj razširjena ali pa zaradi različnih razlogov prezrta. Tako je med drugim s področji policijskega dela, kriminalističnega preiskovanja,... more
Zavedanje o uporabnosti psihologije počasi pronica tudi na področja, kjer je pri nas tradicionalno manj razširjena ali pa zaradi različnih razlogov prezrta. Tako je med drugim s področji policijskega dela, kriminalističnega preiskovanja, dela sodišč, varovanja ipd. Zato je eden od namenov knjige opozoriti na pomen in koristi, ki jih lahko imajo strokovnjaki z omenjenih področij, če poznajo temeljna spoznanja psihologije. V knjigi so zajeta osnovna spoznanja o spoznavnih, motivacijskih in čustvenih procesih, opisuje nekaj znanih teorij osebnosti in glavna načela delovanja človeka v družbi. Uvodoma je predstavljena tudi psihologija kot znanost, njene temeljne metode, področja delovanja in raziskovanja, etika ipd. Delo je namenjeno predvsem študentom Fakultete za varnostne vede, zato sem ga dopolnil z vsebino, ki veča uporabno vrednost psihologije na področjih, za katera se izobražujejo. Tako je zajeta problematika prometne varnosti, pričanja očividcev, agresivnega vedenja, zlorabe psi...
Attribution of blame to a sexual abuse victim has several negative effects, including secondary victimization. The feelings of secondary victimization arise already upon first contact with police officers, creating a negative first... more
Attribution of blame to a sexual abuse victim has several negative effects, including secondary victimization. The feelings of secondary victimization arise already upon first contact with police officers, creating a negative first impression and making it less likely that the victim will be willing to cooperate with the prosecuting and the judicial authorities. This issue prompted us to investigate the extent to which police officers attribute blame to a woman portrayed as a victim of three different criminal acts. We analyzed the answers of 1,000 Slovenian police officers who attributed different personality characteristics to the notional victim. The victim was placed in three victimizing situations (rape victim of an unknown man, rape victim of a husband, and burglary victim), as well as in one situation without victimization. The factor analysis yielded three factors, which we named the empathy factor, the attribution of blame to the victim factor and the rejection of victim’s blame factor. The results have shown that the participants attributed most blame to the victim when she was raped by her husband.
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... situations getting a speeding ticket from a police officer (Research I) and being involved in a traffic accident (Research II). The sample characteristics are evident in Table V. Questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 24... more
... situations getting a speeding ticket from a police officer (Research I) and being involved in a traffic accident (Research II). The sample characteristics are evident in Table V. Questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 24 variables, which were designed to establish citizens' ...
Research Interests:
ABSTRACT The research focused on sex differences in the accuracy and quantity of memory recall for specific details of an event. The respondent sample included 280 participants (57.5% females and 42.5% males) with an average age of... more
ABSTRACT The research focused on sex differences in the accuracy and quantity of memory recall for specific details of an event. The respondent sample included 280 participants (57.5% females and 42.5% males) with an average age of 19years. The participants were shown a two-minute recording of a violent robbery, supposedly captured by a surveillance camera, and told their help was needed in verifying hypotheses for the criminal investigation. The results have shown that, overall, females are more reliable eyewitnesses than males. Most notably, females outperformed males in the accuracy of person descriptions, particularly in victim descriptions. Males were more accurate in describing the event and also more confident in their memory, especially when describing the place of the incident. However, male confidence was unjustified because females showed a higher degree of accuracy also in place descriptions. The quantity of recalled details revealed no sex differences, probably because a checklist was used to evaluate memory recall.
Research Interests:
Abstract: Police officers, regardless of gender, attributed the highest degree of guilt to a victim who had been raped by her husband. In all of the victimization scenarios, female officers showed less empathy than male officers; however,... more
Abstract: Police officers, regardless of gender, attributed the highest degree of guilt to a victim who had been raped by her husband. In all of the victimization scenarios, female officers showed less empathy than male officers; however, they tended to be more protective of the victim than were the male officers. The study analyzed the responses of 1,000 male and female police officers. For the various types of victimization scenarios, police officers' responses were examined for empathy, attributions of guilt to the victim, and denial of ...
Eyewitness testimony remains an important element in resolving criminal investigations. Despite a great deal of research on the subject, the understanding of the effects that witness gender might have on their testimony remains rather... more
Eyewitness testimony remains an important element in resolving criminal investigations. Despite a great deal of research on the subject, the understanding of the effects that witness gender might have on their testimony remains rather limited. The aim of the present study was to examine own-gender bias in recalling personal descriptions of perpetrators. Participants, who were invited to take part in the study, were told they were providing real-life assistance to criminal investigators and potentially helping them to verify hypotheses concerning an actual crime. The participants comprised 256 undergraduate volunteers, who were placed in one of the four groups. Each group observed one of the four crime scenarios that were varied only in terms of gender of either the victim or the perpetrator. All scenarios were designed as footage taken by a CCTV surveillance camera and involved two-minute videos of a staged assault and robbery. After seven days, participants completed a survey on th...
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In recent decades, the trend or the need for an experience of the effect of immersion into theatre events, other branches of art, tourism, everyday business and private life has become quite evident. We are used to audio-visual... more
In recent decades, the trend or the need for an experience of the effect of immersion into theatre events, other branches of art, tourism, everyday business and private life has become quite evident. We are used to audio-visual communication, which, from the Renaissance onwards, became the dominant channel for delivering messages, while other senses became less important. Until the middle of the 20th century, the role of smell in theatre practices was neglected, and more important senses took over the place of communication and staging. Rarely it was used as a direct prop, but always very carefully, because, according to many experts, it cannot be controlled like sound and light. However, we have forgotten that the smell, especially in combination with the sound, can have a strong emotional impact on a spectator. Like the other senses, the scent recreates the context of memories and can evoke an intense reliving of emotions and events. It can also provoke an evaluation or re-evaluat...
If criminal investigators do not find any firm evidence and relevant witness of a crime exists, a question about reliability of a witness is brought forward. Is it possible to successfully assess a subject and predict the validity of an... more
If criminal investigators do not find any firm evidence and relevant witness of a crime exists, a question about reliability of a witness is brought forward. Is it possible to successfully assess a subject and predict the validity of an eyewitness testimony? In an effort to come close to an answer we have been working on a research project in which we try to explain connection between specific personal characteristics and memory recall. We assume that it is possible to develop a model which will help criminal investigators (psychologists) to predict, with some fair certainty, suitability of an eyewitness. Personal characteristics were measured by Eysenck's test of personality EPQ, with which we searched for a correlation among personal traits and the validity of witness memory recall. Persons high on extroversion and low on neuroticism are more reliable witnesses. Extrovert ones are oriented toward other people and more empathetic. Accuracy of memory recall also depends on perso...
Para los profesionales de la seguridad y la justicia (policias, abogados, jueces), los miles de articulos revisados por pares sobre comunicacion no verbal representan fuentes importantes de conocimiento. Sin embargo, a pesar del alcance... more
Para los profesionales de la seguridad y la justicia (policias, abogados, jueces), los miles de articulos revisados por pares sobre comunicacion no verbal representan fuentes importantes de conocimiento. Sin embargo, a pesar del alcance del trabajo cientifico realizado sobre este tema, los profesionales pueden recurrir a programas, metodos y enfoques que no reflejan el estado real de la ciencia. El objetivo de este articulo es examinar (i) los conceptos de comunicacion no verbal transmitidos por estos programas, metodos y enfoques, pero tambien (ii) las consecuencias de su uso (por ejemplo, sobre la vida o la libertad de las personas). Para lograr estos objetivos, describimos el alcance de la investigacion cientifica sobre la comunicacion no verbal. Se examina un programa (SPOT: Evaluacion de pasajeros mediante tecnicas de observacion), un metodo (BAI: Entrevista de analisis de conducta) y un enfoque (sinergologia) que contradicen el estado de la ciencia. Finalmente, presentamos cin...
Namen prispevka: Forenzicna psihologija je v Sloveniji slabo razvita in poznana, tako med psihologi kot tudi med strokovnjaki, ki delajo na podrocju pravosodja ali v policiji. V prispevku je zato na kratko predstavljen razvoj in v praksi... more
Namen prispevka: Forenzicna psihologija je v Sloveniji slabo razvita in poznana, tako med psihologi kot tudi med strokovnjaki, ki delajo na podrocju pravosodja ali v policiji. V prispevku je zato na kratko predstavljen razvoj in v praksi uporabne zmožnosti sodobne forenzicne psihologije. Metode: Clanek je nastal na osnovi pregleda in integracije spoznanj iz razlicnih strokovnih in znanstvenih virov, katerih avtorji so mednarodno priznani strokovnjaki, ki svoja dela objavljajo v recenziranih revijah in monografijah. Ugotovitve: Sodobna forenzicna psihologija ponuja veliko eksperimentalno preverjenega znanja, ki ga v tujini s pridom izkoriscajo, s cimer dosegajo vecjo ucinkovitost preiskovalnega dela in dela pravosodnih organov in tako, vsaj naceloma, omogocajo visjo stopnjo zascite nedolžnih osumljenih oseb. V Sloveniji je opazen nekajdesetletni zaostanek v razvitosti forenzicne psihologije, pri cemer je najmanjsi v akademskem okolju, velik in skrb vzbujajoc pa je v preiskovalni in s...
Research Interests:
The first phase of the research project in which we try to establish the connection between personality characteristics and memory recall is presented. We are trying to develop a model which could be helpful in predicting the validity of... more
The first phase of the research project in which we try to establish the connection between personality characteristics and memory recall is presented. We are trying to develop a model which could be helpful in predicting the validity of eyewitness testimony. First, personality characteristics were measured using Eysenck’s personality test, then a short film about a physical attack and robbery was shown to participants, and finally, one week later, the memory recall was checked. On the basis of data gathered it is impossible to predict the quality of eyewitness testimony satisfactorily. However, other interesting results were established: the participants high on extroversion and low on neuroticism were more reliable as witnesses, the level of accuracy of memory recall depended on emotional stability, the participants with high neuroticism and psychoticism produced less accurate recall and the subjects with high psychoticism showed a weak response or smaller quantity of recalled data.
Research Interests:
Popačenje spominskih podatkov pri pričanju očividcev kaznivih dejanj predstavlja resen problem, saj vpliva na uspešnost preiskovanja kaznivih dejanj in na odločanje sodišč. Na resnost omenjenega problema opozarja podatek, da so v ZDA z... more
Popačenje spominskih podatkov pri pričanju očividcev kaznivih dejanj predstavlja resen problem, saj vpliva na uspešnost preiskovanja kaznivih dejanj in na odločanje sodišč. Na resnost omenjenega problema opozarja podatek, da so v ZDA z naknadno uporabo DNK-testov ugotovili, da je bilo od leta 1989 do septembra 2010 po nedolžnem obsojenih 258 oseb (Innocence project, 2010). Zmotne obsodbe so v veliki večini primerov posledica zmotnega pričanja (Scheck, Neufield in Dwyer, 2000) in kažejo, da pravosodno osebje, policisti in kriminalisti pogosto precenjujejo verodostojnost pričanja očividcev (Kebbell in Milne, 1998; Lindsay, 2007).
Interrogation techniques are well explored, but in Slovenia it has remained unknown what interrogation techniques are used and what the basic characteristics of suspect interrogations are. The Slovenian interrogation manual proposes some... more
Interrogation techniques are well explored, but in Slovenia it has remained unknown what interrogation techniques are used and what the basic characteristics of suspect interrogations are. The Slovenian interrogation manual proposes some coercive interrogation techniques and neglects their weaknesses. The aim of the current study was to examine Slovenian police officers’ beliefs as to the basic characteristics of their interrogations and whether techniques proposed by the manual are used in practice to begin to provide some insight into what actually happens in such interrogations. A survey instrument was used to obtain selfreport data from a sample of criminal investigators. From 86 completed questionnaires it was found that a typical interrogation of a suspect lasts around 90 minutes and is not recorded. Interviewers typically use three interrogation techniques namely (i) conducting interrogations in isolation; (ii) identifying contradictions in the suspect’s story; and (iii) conf...
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In trials against war criminals, the defendants often plead not guilty by reason of insanity in an effort to avoid assuming responsibility for the charged acts. The paper discusses the history of the insanity defence and some factors that... more
In trials against war criminals, the defendants often plead not guilty by reason of insanity in an effort to avoid assuming responsibility for the charged acts. The paper discusses the history of the insanity defence and some factors that might explain why war crimes are committed. The authors concentrate primarily on the psychological elements of insanity and the reasons for extreme violence appearing at the individual level. Persons charged with war crimes often use posttraumatic stress disorder as the basis for an insanity defence. The authors also consider insanity from the perspective of international criminal law. By explicitly and precisely defining insanity, the Rome Statute moved away from the general provisions employed by the Nuremberg Tribunal, while at the same time making a clear distinction between insanity and incapacity for trial. Insanity may be a complete defence resulting in exclusion of the criminal act and exclusion of the offender’s culpability.
Research Interests:
The research examines the efficiency of episodic memory in the context of eyewitness memory. The purpose of the research was to ascertain the connection between personality traits and memory recall, what may allow us to form a model of... more
The research examines the efficiency of episodic memory in the context of eyewitness memory. The purpose of the research was to ascertain the connection between personality traits and memory recall, what may allow us to form a model of reliability prediction of eyewitness testimony. It was hypothesized that high neuroticism, psychoticism and high introversion are connected with low accuracy and quantity of memory recall. Participants were undergraduate students (N = 280) between