Scott Fraser

Scott Fraser is a researcher at Duke University who investigates the critical flaws in human memory and perception, particularly within the context of eyewitness testimony. His groundbreaking work examines why people's recollections of events can be dramatically unreliable, even when witnesses are completely confident in their accounts.

Fraser's research has significant implications for the criminal justice system, where eyewitness testimony has traditionally been considered among the most compelling forms of evidence. Through his TEDxUSC presentation "Why eyewitnesses get it wrong," he has brought attention to the psychological and neurological factors that contribute to memory distortion and misidentification.

His work helps explain how stress, lighting conditions, cross-racial identification challenges, and the reconstructive nature of memory can lead to serious errors in witness accounts, potentially affecting legal outcomes and justice.