The History of Eyewitness Testimony and the Foundations of the "Lie Detector" in Austria and Italy

Journal title RIVISTA SPERIMENTALE DI FRENIATRIA
Author/s Mauro Antonelli, Siegfried Ludwig Sporer
Publishing Year 2021 Issue 2021/1
Language English Pages 26 P. 41-66 File size 272 KB
DOI 10.3280/RSF2021-001003
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Although little known, the theoretical and methodological roots of lie detection, in particular of the development of the so-called "lie detector", must be placed in central Europe, in particular in Germany, Austria, and later in Italy at the turn of the 19th and 20th century. Focusing on Austria and Italy, we trace this development from Hans Gross in Austria to Vittorio Benussi and his pupil Cesare L. Musatti in Italy. Benussi, initially active at the University of Graz and later at the University of Padua, was the mediating link between the Austrian and Italian legal psychology tradition.

Keywords: Llie detection, eyewitness testimony, history of psychology, Austria, Italy, Vittorio Benussi.

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Mauro Antonelli, Siegfried Ludwig Sporer, The History of Eyewitness Testimony and the Foundations of the "Lie Detector" in Austria and Italy in "RIVISTA SPERIMENTALE DI FRENIATRIA" 1/2021, pp 41-66, DOI: 10.3280/RSF2021-001003