Digested: The importance of looking credible: the impact of the behavioural sequelae of post-traumatic stress disorder on the credibility of asylum seekers

Behaviours such as averting one’s gaze, fidgeting, and hesitant speech are commonly interpreted as signs of dishonesty, yet they are also symptoms of PTSD. What, if any, are the effects of this overlap on credibility assessment in the asylum process?

Associate Researchers Hannah Rogers and Simone Fox, and CSEL Director Jane Herlihy have recently published a new study in Psychology, Crime and Law, investigating whether observable symptoms of PTSD can be confused with perceived cues to deception, and how such confusion, where it arises, affects the assessment of an individual’s credibility in the context of a mock asylum interview. You can read through our digest below. If you would like more detail or to cite the paper in the future, click here to access the full paper (£), or here for a pre-print copy. (Image credit: Tori Rector)

Roundtable: Child psychology in asylum and immigration cases

Academic research is normally advanced by researchers performing a systematic review of existing literature, identifying gaps, or questions still unanswered, and then designing new research studies to fill those gaps.  At CSEL we want to go further.  We need to know that our research is not just interesting academically, but useful in practice. 

Digested: Overgeneral memory in refugees and asylum seekers

Have you ever wondered whether the effects of trauma on memory are the same across all cultures?

Image by: Dierk Schaefer

CSEL Trustee Chris Brewin, Associate Researcher Belinda Graham and Jane Herlihy have recently published a new study in the Journal of Behaviour Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, to investigate the link between PTSD and overgeneral memory in refugees and asylum seekers from 18 different countries. Click here to access the full paper (£), here for a pre-print copy of the paper, or read through our digest below.

Law and emotion in the classroom: Honours students from Leiden University

On March 28th Jane Herlihy visited the Institute of Immigration Law at Leiden University in the Netherlands, along with Marcelle Reneman of VU University, to give a presentation on credibility as part of a series of multi-disciplinary sessions for honours students on asylum law and policy. For today, we’ve handed the reins of the blog over to Marit Jansen, one of the students who took part. Here’s her report:

NEW: Training for voluntary sector workers in London, Weds 21 May

Due to unforeseen popular demand for our April training for NGO's, voluntary sector workers and volunteers, we are pleased to announce that we will be running a second session on Wednesday 21st May. The session will run from 1-4pm in Central London (venue tbc).

If you're interested in gaining a deeper understanding of science, memory and credibility, and in learning to use scientific evidence to support your work with people seeking asylum, please get in touch with Clare Cochrane (c.cochrane@csel.org.uk) to book a place, or if you need any further information.

We look forward to seeing you there!

CSEL Director Jane Herlihy to speak at Solace Women's Aid

On March 25th, Jane will be presenting some of her work on trauma and memory to Solace Women's Aid, drawing on a recently published review of the currently available scientific literature on memory, in order to outline theories of normal and traumatic memory.  Her presentation will also include research studies on inconsistencies in memory, overgeneral memory and difficulties disclosing distressing personal experiences, that demonstrate some of the reasons why people who have experienced one or many traumatic events might have difficulties presenting a consistent, coherent and full description of some of the most distressing moments of their lives.  

Your views needed: using research resources in casework with vulnerable people

We have been working hard to develop our forthcoming research hub and digest, which will keep you abreast of new high quality publications and the latest developments in the overlapping worlds of psychology, law and emotion. We look forward to publishing our first research digest in May, so be prepared for the face of our quarterly newsletter to change! In the meantime, we are running a short survey collecting legal and voluntary sector professionals’ views on using research resources in casework with vulnerable women, children and migrants, which you can find here. Your input into this exciting new phase of our work is much appreciated; please share the survey with any others who might be interested.