Elizabeth F. Loftus
Distinguished Professor of Psychological Science; Criminology, Law & Society; Cognitive Science; and Law
Joint appointment in Psychological Science
Criminology, Law & Society
Cognitive Sciences
School of Law
Expertise:
Psychology and law, human memory, eyewitness testimony, courtroom procedure
Background:
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.
(Log in to view full course descriptions in the UCI Law Course Catalog)
- Loftus, E.F., Thinking or Acting Like A Lawyer? What We Don’t Know About Legal Education and Are Afraid to Ask in The State of Legal Education Research: Then and Now and Tomorrow (eds. Ben Golder et al.) (2019).
- Loftus, E.F. & Greenspan, R.L. (2017) If I’m certain, is it true? Accuracy and Confidence in eyewitness memory. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 18, 1-2
- Loftus, E.F. (2017) Eavesdropping on Memory. Annual Review of Psychology, 68, 1-18.>
- Grady, R.H., Butler, B.J. & Loftus, E.F. (2016) What should happen after an officer-involved shooting? Memory concerns in police reporting procedures. Journal of Applied Research in Memory & Cognition, 5, 246-251.>
- Loftus, E. F. (2016) Illusions of Memory. Skeptical Inquirer, 40, 22-23. (Honorary Doctorate Acceptance Speech)
- Daily Journal: "Boy Scout file release: the benefits...and harms" (PDF)
- The New York Times Opinion: "The Risk of Ill-Informed Juries" (PDF)
- 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" (PDF). 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
- July 21, 2024:
Speaker, Woxsen University in Hyderabad, India - March 29, 2019:
Speaker, Jeeves Lecture, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland, UK - Oct. 29, 2018:
Speaker, “The Fiction of Memory,” Neuroscience Research Day 2018, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA - April 27, 2018:
Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree and Distinguished Speaker, “Eavesdropping on Memory,” Western Psychological Association Annual Convention, Portland, OR - April 12, 2018:
Keynote Speaker, “The Fiction of Memory,” Houston Bar Association 2018 Criminal/Appellate Bench Bar Conference, Houston, TX - Feb. 24, 2018:
Speaker, “Illusions of Memory,” The Science of Learning and Its Applications Symposium, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA
- July 13, 2022: Prof. Loftus received honorary doctorate from Australian National University "for exceptional contributions to psychological science, pioneering applications to the administration of justice andher unwavering pursuit of scientific freedom."
- 2020: International Union of Psychological Science Lifetime Career Award
- 2020: American Philosophical Society, 2020 Patrick Suppes Prize
- 2018: Western Psychological Association, Lifetime Achievement Award
- November 2016: Professor Loftus awarded 2016 John Maddox Prize for Standing up for Science
- 2015: Doctor of Social Sciences Honoris Causa, Goldsmiths College, University of London
- 2013: Professor Loftus is awarded the Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Science of Psychology by the American Psychological Foundation for her research of memory distortion and false memories
- July 2012: Professor Loftus is awarded the UCI Medal, UC Irvine's most prestigious honor, for her groundbreaking memory research
- L’Eco di Bergamo: Incorrect Information Can Generate False Memories
- Avvenire: That false memory that generates truth
- Analytics Insight: AI’s Fact-Checking Game, Debunks Conspiracy Theories Better Than Humans
- Bloomberg: AI Can Debunk Conspiracy Theories Better Than Humans
- The Atlantic: A New Tool to Warp Reality*
- The Los Angeles Times: A childhood memory sent her father to prison for murder. Was it real?
- Faculty Roundup: The Latest Highlights From UCI Law’s Faculty (July 2024)
- Science News: Scientists are fixing flawed forensics that can lead to wrongful convictions
- Bryant and Baden Justice Served: Professor Elizabeth Loftus Weighs In on Michelle Troconis Trial
- Fox 61: Psychology professor brings expertise to court | Troconis Trial
- Hidden Brain: Are Your Memories Real?
- Wrongful Conviction: Junk Science – Eyewitness Testimony
- Science and Entertainment Exchange: Storytelling and the Science of True and False Memories
- Human Centered: Listen on Spotify
- Le Monde: Lost in a shopping mall
- New Scientist: Deepfake videos create false memories – but so do fake articles
- The New York Times: What Haunts Child Abuse Victims? The Memory, Study Finds
- CNN Chile: Elizabeth Loftus: Memoria y eventos traumáticos | Sana Mente
- USA Today: What is disinformation? Misinformation? What to know about how ‘fake news’ is spread.
- DOSSIER: Memory Deceives
- Skeptical Inquirer - Prof. Elizabeth Loftus delivers commencement address at Australian National University: "On Memory and Bravery: When You Can Be Screamed at and Honored on the Same Day"
- EL PAÍS: Prof. Loftus featured in Spain's leading newspaper
- University of Virginia Podcast: Prof. Loftus discusses her work on the psychology of law
- Le Monde: Prof. Loftus featured in a profile on her research on the malleability of memories
- Popular Mechanics: Prof. Loftus highlighted for fallibility of memory research
- UCSD News: Prof. Loftus co-writes new research paper on eyewitness testimony, memory, and wrongful convictions
- Ideas Roadshow Podcast: LISTEN: Prof. Loftus discusses the malleability of memory
- PetaPixel: Prof. Loftus quoted on how taking pictures can impact memory
- Mente y Ciencia: Prof. Loftus Q&A interview on the fallibility of memory
- Inverse: Prof. Loftus highlighted for “lost in a mall” study on the fallibility of memory
- NZZ: Q&A interview with Prof. Loftus on her research and past trial testimony on the malleability of memory
- Digital Camera: Prof. Loftus quoted on how photographs can impact memory
- Inverse: Prof. Loftus highlighted for research on the fallibility of memory
- NPR: Prof. Loftus comments on how taking photos can affect memory
- Sepideh Danaei: Prof. Loftus featured in cover story on her research on memory in Persian magazine
- New York Times Magazine: Prof. Loftus quoted on research into eyewitness testimony
- International Union of Psychological Science: Prof. Loftus to receive 2020 IUPsyS Lifetime Career Award
- Tedium: Prof. Loftus highlighted for research and book on psychology of video games
- KPCC’s Air Talk: LISTEN: Prof. Loftus discusses new study involving planting false memories and her research on the malleability of memory
- New Yorker: Prof. Loftus profiled on her life and research on the malleability of memory