PSYC1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 37: Suggestibility, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
2 Jul 2018
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4/06/2018 Interrogations and False Confessions
Describe and critically evaluate the nine-step approach to interrogation
1. Positive confrontation – direct presentation of real or fictional evidence and the suspects
involvement in the crime; observe suspects behaviour cues; repeat accusations
2. Theme development – psychological themes developed to justify the crime; differs
depending on suspects emotional state (emotion=minimisation, non-
emotion=maximisation)
3. Handling denials – stop the suspects repetition or elaboration of denials; innocent
suspects will not allow their denials to be cut off, but guilty suspects will
4. Overcoming objections – show understanding and returning to the conversation theme
5. Retaining suspects attention – interrogator moves physically closer to the suspect,
leaning in towards them, and maintaining eye contact
6. Handling the suspects mood – interrogator focuses suspects mind on possible reasons
for committing the crime; interrogator uses sympathy to urge suspect to tell the truth
(creates remorseful mood)
7. Creating an opportunity to confess – suspects are given an opportunity to provide an
explanation or excuse for the crime
8. Oral confession – development of INITIAL confession (circumstances, motives, details of
crime); questions should be brief, clear and non-emotionally charged
9. Converting an oral confession into a written one – important as suspects try to deny an
oral one
oMinimisation emphasises the positive aspects of admitting guilt
oMaximisation emphasises the negative aspects of not making a confession
oCONCERNS: bias against suspect; trickery and deceit is unlawful; pressuring suspects to
confess may have opposite effects; suspect may catch onto bluffing; vulnerable suspects
may get PTSD; brief responses may not give accurate story; assumes officers can detect
deception; may lead to false confessions
Define false confessions and state the frequency of false confessions
oOccur when individuals confess a crime they did not commit or exaggerates their
involvement in a crime they did commit
oGudjonsson & Sigurdsson, 1994: 95% of all new inmates to prisons in Iceland
interviewed over 12-month period; 12% claimed to make false confessions, slightly more
than half said they had made a false confession to escape police interrogation, other
percentage said they did it to protect another
Name and describe three types of false confessions
1. Voluntary – occurs without being prompted by police; why: desire for notoriety, inability
to distinguish fact from fantasy, a need to be punished, attempt to protect real offender
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