Abstract
known as Law and Psychology), a small number of topics have stimulated the overwhelming majority of research. However, the topics available for psychology and law inquiry are infinite—limited only by the experience and imaginations of the re- searchers. I describe several areas of basic research in cognitive and social psychology that I, my colleagues, and my students, have been involved in during the past dozen years and demonstrate how they can be applied to the law. The major areas include: analogical reasoning—relevant to legal training and the use of precedent in judicial reasoning and legal scholarship; and causal and counterfactual reasoning—relevant to judges' and juries' decisions in most criminal and civil actions. I briefly mention research on hypothesis testing, metacognition, and memory inhibition. Several current "hot topics" in cognitive and social psychology are also ripe for more interdisciplinary research including: aging, information displays (including virtual re- ality), affective forecasting, implicit attitude formation and use, and stereotyping.
Recommended Citation
Barbara A. Spellman,
Reflections of a Recoving Lawyer: How Becoming a Cognitive Psychologist —and (in Particular) Studying Analogical and Causal Reasoning—Changed My Views about the Field of Psychology and Law,
79
Chi.-Kent L. Rev.
1187
(2004).
Available at:
https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/cklawreview/vol79/iss3/31
