On the Witness Stand: Essays on Psychology and Crime

by Hugo Münsterberg, Elizabeth F. Loftus (Foreword), Mark Hatala

Originally published by Hugo Munsterberg in 1908, this classic treatise applies experimental methods to the courtroom and is the foundational text of forensic psychology. With a new foreword by psychologist Elizabeth Loftus (author of Witness for the Defense, Eyewitness Testimony, and The Myth of Repressed Memory) the impact of this work continues to be felt a century after its initial publication. Topics in the book include: the memory of the witness, the detection of crime, untrue confessions, suggestions in court, hypnotism and crime, illusions, and the prevention of crime.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Crime, Science

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1908

About the author

Hugo Münsterberg was a German-American psychologist. He was one of the pioneers in applied psychology, extending his research and theories to industrial/organizational (I/O), legal, medical, clinical, educational and business settings.

Not to be confused with Hugo Munsterberg, an expert on Far Eastern art.

Reviews

[Reix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Munsterberg is considered the founder of applied social psychology. In the year 1922 he wrote this essay using his experiments and his findings as the basis of its content.
I recommend to read this book if you are interested in the processes of the mind in relation to the crime. Is well known that witness memories, for exemple, are pretty biased and a lot of times, non even related to what really happened. Chapter one is very interesting in relation with that question.
In the rest of the book, Munsterberg talks about what happens in our mind when we try to recover facts who really happened or who didn't have place, about our corporal behaviour when we are being interrogated and the clues to suspect when a witness or an accused is lying (we've got to remember that those clues don't necessarily mean that someone is lying), about the effects of alcohol related to the crime, the impulsiveness, etc.
The most obsolete ideas supported by Munsterberg are, in my opinion, those related to hypnotism. I think that chapter doesn't contribute in anything to the contents of the book, and many of the data he uses, have proved to be different nowadays.
Finally, I agree with the author when he explains in the final chapter the reasons because he thinks is better to invest in preventing that crimes happen, than in looking for ways to punish people for committing crime. If we prevent something to happen, it will be better than trying to solve the problem when it has just occurred.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Witness Stand by Hugo Münsterberg is a seminal work in forensic psychology, offering brilliant insights into the intersection of psychology and the legal system. As one of the earliest explorations of topics like memory, perception, and suggestion in courtroom settings, this book provides invaluable historical context for the field. Its unedited and raw presentation of Münsterberg’s ideas makes it a fascinating read, capturing the foundations of forensic psychology while showcasing the evolving understanding of human behavior. A must-read for students and professionals in the field, as well as anyone interested in the history of psychological science.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone interested in or studying Forensic Psychology needs to be familiar with this foundational text. The essays are engaging, clearly written and very convincing regarding the unreliability of human memory and perception.

[delbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly appraised Hugo Munsterberg's work, his ideas were over half a century ahead of his time. Such men (such as Hugo himself) were often ridiculed - just because we did not know any better.