Rate My Professor Linda Henkel

Linda Henkel, PhD, is a Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences in the Psychology department at Fairfield University, appointed in September 2025 as the Elizabeth DeCamp McInerny Chair in the Health Sciences. As a cognitive psychologist, she specializes in research on memory and cognition across the lifespan, investigating predictable patterns of memory errors and distortions in everyday settings. Her work examines how taking and viewing photographs shapes memory, revealing that photo-taking during experiences like museum tours impairs recall of visual details relative to mere observation, while actively engaging with photos through organizing, printing, sharing, and reminiscing enhances memory accessibility, vividness, and emotional well-being, particularly among older adults. Key publications include "Point-and-shoot memories: The influence of taking photos on memory for a museum tour" (Psychological Science, 2014), "Photograph-induced memory errors: When photographs make people claim they have done things they haven’t" (Applied Cognitive Psychology, 2011), "Memory distortions in coerced false confessions: A source monitoring framework analysis" (Applied Cognitive Psychology, 2004), "Erroneous memories arising from repeated attempts to remember" (Journal of Memory and Language, 2004), and "Aging and source monitoring: Cognitive processes and neuropsychological correlates" (Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 1998). Additional studies address collaborative remembering, nonprobative photos fostering false beliefs about the past (Memory & Cognition, 2016), and auditory cues creating false action memories (Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 2015).

Henkel's extensive body of peer-reviewed articles appears in prestigious journals such as Memory & Cognition, Psychology & Aging, and Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition. Her research has practical implications for criminal justice through analyses of eyewitness accuracy and false confessions, museum visitor experiences regarding photography policies, and health interventions promoting reminiscence to combat loneliness and improve mental health in nursing home residents. At Fairfield University, she directs the Applied Cognition Lab, mentoring over 250 undergraduates in designing, conducting, and analyzing empirical studies. She teaches courses including cognitive psychology, false memories, statistics, and research methods, emphasizing scientific reasoning. Henkel's pioneering contributions to understanding digital-era memory challenges have garnered international recognition, including expert consultations on printed versus electronic photos' memory effects.