1997 James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award

Elizabeth F. Loftus

University of California, Irvine

Members of our profession can make a contribution to society through their laboratory research; through the application of these findings to some important problems that confront society; or through public service. Elizabeth Loftus has distinguished herself through outstanding achievements in each of these domains.

Her early basic research on memory set the stage for her landmark contributions to law and psychology and the criminal justice system. Her important and highly original research asks questions such as, “Can expert and eyewitness testimony be trusted? Are memories veridical, especially regarding traumatic events, or are they likely to be distorted? If so, by whom, when and in what ways?” Her answers to these questions have led to much public debate. By making the public aware of the importance of psychological research to society with her impeccable experiments, she has served as an advocate on behalf of the profession and has honored us all. Elizabeth Loftus is named a James McKeen Cattell Fellow in recognition and appreciation of her ground-breaking and provocative contributions to the field of psychology.