As illustrated by the mistaken, high-profile fingerprint identification of Brandon Mayfield in
the Madrid Bomber case, and consistent with a recent critique by the National Academy of
Sciences (2009), it is clear that the forensic sciences are subject to contextual bias and
fraught with error. In this article, we describe classic psychological research on primacy,
expectancy effects, and observer effects, all of which indicate that context can taint people's
perceptions, judgments, and behaviors. Then we describe recent studies indicating that …

Comments on an article by Saul M. Kassin, Itiel E. Dror and Jeff Kukucka (see record 2013-
09216-007). In their paper, Kassin, Dror, and Kukucka bring renewed attention to a subject
worthy of considerable discussion. Research and empirical events have revealed that, as
well intended as an individual may be, the human mind is absolutely capable of making a
person act in such a manner that goes against what their training, experience, best
judgment, and morals would otherwise dictate. When such influences occur in relationship …