Elizabeth F. Loftus
Founding Faculty
Joint appointment in Psychology and Law
Joint appointment in Psychology and Law
Prof. Elizabeth Loftus is one of the nation's leading experts on memory. She has been an expert witness or consultant in hundreds of cases, including the McMartin preschool molestation case, the trial of Oliver North, the trial of the officers accused in the Rodney King beating, and litigation involving Michael Jackson, Martha Stewart, Scooter Libby and the Duke University Lacrosse players.
Expertise: Psychology and law, human memory, eyewitness testimony, courtroom procedure
Courses Taught: Eyewitness Testimony, Memory and the Law
In the News:
- Los Angeles Times: Prof. Loftus comments on work of USC child pyschologist
- Associated Press/Fox News: Prof. Loftus: Evidence lacking to support recovered memories
- The New York Times: Prof. Loftus: Witnesses can be overconfident about memories
- Daily Journal: Prof. Loftus on eyewitness reliability in high court case (PDF)
- National Geographic: Prof. Loftus on how eyewitness memories become distorted (video)
- TIME: Prof. Loftus on bad eyewitness testimony
- The New York Times Opinion: Prof. Loftus: Jurors often are misled by eyewitness testimony (PDF)
- The Daily Journal: Prof. Loftus' memory research cited in key eyewitness ruling (PDF)
- New York Post: Prof. Loftus comments on key ruling citing memory research
- Association for Psychological Science: Prof. Loftus on the potential use of memory-dimming drugs
- Live Science: Prof. Loftus on the potential use of memory-dimming drugs
- OC Weekly: Prof. Loftus on psychological impact of 9/11 a decade later
- Forbes: Prof. Loftus' research cited in story on bin Laden's death
- BBC Radio 4: "Mind Changers" show interviews Prof. Loftus as a "game changing" psychologist
- California Lawyer: Show based on Prof. Loftus to join spate of TV law programs
- Orange County Business Journal: Prof. Loftus noted for award from prestigious science group
- Radiolab show: Prof. Loftus talks about adding memories
- CBS News: Prof. Loftus on how false memories can be created and affect consumer behavior
- Orange Coast Magazine: Prof. Loftus and her work on memory profiled
- Slate: Eight-part series profiles Prof. Loftus's research and personal story
- ABA Journal, National Law Journal, WSJ Law Blog: New study co-authored by Prof. Loftus shows lawyers are often too optimistic about cases
- ABC-TV, Australia: Prof. Loftus and her memory alteration experiments prominently featured in TV report on "False Memory"
Recent Publications:
- The Wall Street Journal book review: "In the Memory Palace"
- Goodman-Delahunty, J., Granhag, P.A., Hartwig, M. & Loftus, E.F. (2010) "INSIGHTFUL OR WISHFUL: Lawyers’ Ability to Predict Case Outcomes". Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, Vol. 16, No. 2, 133-157
- Science magazine: "Bad Theories Can Harm Victims" (PDF)
- Bernstein, D.M. & Loftus, E.F. (2009) The consequences of false memories for food preferences and choices. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4, 135-139
- Peterson, T., Kaasa, S.,O. & Loftus, E.F. (2009). Me too! : Social Modeling Influences on Early Autobiographical Memories. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 23, 267-277
- Prof. Loftus' Scholarly Papers on SSRN
Contact info
> Recent & Upcoming Events
- Oct. 4, 2011: "Post 9/11: Science, Policy & Law", Beckman Center at UC Irvine