Muddling to Discovery

HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT GOOD OBSERVERS: ANY trial lawyer will tell you that the most unreliable witness is an eyewitness. That's unfortunate enough, but the real trouble is that we are very clever: when facts are missing, don't make sense or are forgotten, we manufacture them to suit our favo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Newsweek 1992-08, Vol.120 (7), p.60
Main Author: Trower, W Peter
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT GOOD OBSERVERS: ANY trial lawyer will tell you that the most unreliable witness is an eyewitness. That's unfortunate enough, but the real trouble is that we are very clever: when facts are missing, don't make sense or are forgotten, we manufacture them to suit our favorite, often subconscious scenario. Scientists take great care to avoid this human failing of self-delusion.
ISSN:0028-9604
1069-840X