IN-CJ Podcast 044 – Perspectives on Aphantasia with Jacky Burrows
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | TuneIn | RSS
The need to recognise cognitive diversity in the criminal justice system is becoming increasingly apparent as more insight is gained into the many ways that people perceive and respond to challenges in the world. In this podcast, Jacky Burrows chats with John Scott about their experience and as people who are aphantasic, which means that they are both ‘mind blind’ and have little or no mind’s eye. As Jacky explains, she can’t
draw something from memory because she has virtually no visual memory.
Jackie has written an article about her experience in Probation Quarterly, in which she explains what she only recently aware of her aphantasia:
I’ve now been able to understand why I have difficulties with facial recognition, why I don’t enjoy books with lengthy visual descriptions, and why I photograph so much of what I do. But it also made me reflect on what assumptions I may have made about other people’s inner worlds and abilities without knowing it.
What might this and other forms of cognitive diversity mean for criminal justice practitioners? John and Jacky explain how they came to realise and accept that they have this difference, discuss their concerns that too often poor understanding of cognitive diversity can lead to behaviour that is harmful to the people involved and others.
This episode of the IN-CJ podcast explores aphantasia – the inability to visualise images in the mind’s eye – and its potential implications for criminal justice.
Host John Scott and guest Jacky Burrows shared their personal experiences of discovering they had aphantasia later in life. Both reflected on how the condition shaped their learning, memory, and emotional responses. For example, reading novels, recalling faces, or re-experiencing past events can be entirely different for people with aphantasia, who often rely on concepts, words, or feelings rather than images.
The conversation highlighted how aphantasia may intersect with criminal justice practice. Questions were raised about the reliability of eyewitness testimony, especially when individuals cannot recall or reproduce visual details. Similarly, rehabilitation programmes that depend on visualisation or mindfulness exercises may unintentionally exclude or disadvantage those with aphantasia. Recognising these differences is vital to avoid misinterpreting memory gaps or limited descriptive detail as evasiveness.
While the condition presents challenges, participants also identified potential positives. People with aphantasia may be less traumatised by exposure to disturbing images, more present in the moment, and capable of approaching problems in conceptual or experiential ways.
The discussion called for greater awareness of cognitive diversity within criminal justice systems. Understanding aphantasia, alongside other forms of neurodiversity, can help practitioners design more inclusive interventions and recognise that there is no single “normal” way of remembering, thinking, or experiencing the world.
Listen to the full discussion in IN-CJ Podcast 044 – Perspectives on Aphantasia with Jacky Burrows.
