Explorando a Complexa Relação entre Confi ança e Desempenho de Memória nas Práticas Jurídico-Criminais

Abstract

The relationship between confi dence and accuracy has been the focus of memory research for over a century. As a result, several studies have indicated it as a dynamic, complex, and multifaceted relationship. Although the topic is controversial, confi dence is still commonly used in forensics as a predictor of memory accuracy. However, the literature shows that the interaction between confi dence and accuracy can be aff ected by various factors, making it diffi cult to establish direct and linear relationships between them. Therefore, the goal of this article is to discuss the specifi cities of such a complex interaction. To achieve this, we conducted a narrative review examining the main methods used to analyze the interaction between confi dence and accuracy, as well as the main variables that infl uence it. In addition, the article includes a theoretical discussion followed by a discussion of the practical implications in everyday legal-criminal practices, with a special focus on the Brazilian context. Although confi dence is still used as an indicator of the veracity of testimony, it is important to consider that this relationship is aff ected by several factors, highlighting the need for caution when interpreting accuracy and confi dence data.Keywords: Memory, confi dence, accuracy, recognition, eyewitness testimony