The Four Core Techniques of Cognitive Interview
Fisher and Geiselman developed four brilliant techniques that completely change how police interview witnesses. These methods work by tapping into how your brain actually stores and recalls memories.
The "report everything" technique encourages witnesses to share every tiny detail, even stuff that seems pointless. You'd be amazed how mentioning the smell of chips or the sound of a car engine can suddenly trigger crucial memories you'd forgotten.
Context reinstatement takes witnesses back to the crime scene or gets them to imagine being there again. This works because your brain links memories to places and emotions - returning to that headspace often unlocks details that seemed lost forever.
Key insight: These techniques work because they mirror how your brain naturally processes and stores information during stressful events.
