False Confessions Overview
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Questions and Answers

What phenomenon did Kassin and Kiechel (1996) primarily investigate in their study?

  • The effects of confabulation on honesty
  • Human compliance in laboratory settings
  • Memory retention under stress
  • False confessions under pressure (correct)

Which key was central to the experiment conducted by Kassin and Kiechel?

  • Escape key
  • Control key
  • Shift key
  • ALT key (correct)

What does the term 'confabulation' refer to in the context of the ALT Key Experiment?

  • Deliberate lying about event details
  • Unintentional reconstruction of memories (correct)
  • Pressure-induced compliance with authority
  • Awareness of memory errors

What was the main conclusion regarding the behavior of participants in Kassin and Kiechel's study?

<p>Participants quickly doubted their own actions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the external validity of Kassin and Kiechel's findings relate to real-life situations?

<p>It highlights potential for false confessions during intense interrogations (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea behind the concept of Forensic Confirmation Bias?

<p>It describes how prior beliefs impact evidence interpretation in criminal cases. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the research by Kukucka & Kassin (2014), what factor influenced the perception of handwriting evidence?

<p>The confession status of the suspect. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Kassin, Bogart & Kerner (2012), what proportion of confession cases contained multiple errors?

<p>78% (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Lange et al (2011) study reveal about how individuals perceive degraded speech?

<p>Motivation affects how people interpret unclear audio messages. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant finding related to cognitive biases highlighted by Itiel Dror's research on forensic experts?

<p>Cognitive biases are often unrecognized by forensic examiners. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the camera perspective have on perceptions of coercion during interrogations?

<p>An equal-focus camera view leads to lower perceptions of coercion. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended time limit for interrogations to avoid false confessions?

<p>No more than 4 hours. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a suggested reform to interrogation practices mentioned in the content?

<p>Educating on the pseudoscience of lie detection. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main reasons for banning minimization strategies during interrogations?

<p>They imply leniency which can distort confessions. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do the perspectives of viewers influence their attribution of influence during a conversation?

<p>Viewers attribute more influence to the person they can see better. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of wrongful convictions involved false confessions?

<p>29% (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological effect influences a person's judgment of trustworthiness based on facial appearance?

<p>First impressions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many exonerations of wrongly convicted individuals occurred in the USA in the past 30 years?

<p>2,500+ (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method is primarily emphasized for its influence on false confessions?

<p>Police interrogation techniques (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the largest cause of wrongful convictions recorded?

<p>Eyewitness misidentifications (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What historical case is noted as one of the first known false confessions?

<p>The Trial of Robert Hubert (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factor significantly influences people's early evaluations of others?

<p>Physical appearance (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of homicide cases involve false confessions?

<p>60% (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a voluntary false confession?

<p>It is offered without obvious external pressure. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What motivates an individual to make a voluntary false confession?

<p>To gain public attention (B), To alleviate guilt through confession (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which type of false confession do suspects acknowledge they are admitting to a crime they did not commit due to social pressure?

<p>Coerced-Compliant False Confession (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common result of coerced-internalized false confessions?

<p>Suspects may come to believe they committed the crime. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which case exemplified the coerced-compliant false confession approach?

<p>The Central Park Five (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is categorized under dispositional risk factors leading to false confessions?

<p>Mental instability (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can create a psychological state leading to a coerced-internalized false confession?

<p>Profound distrust in one's memory (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is often a mistaken belief when a suspect offers a coerced-compliant false confession?

<p>They will receive a lighter sentence for cooperating. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of an interrogation after a suspect is identified?

<p>To reach a confession (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What issue arises from first impressions during interrogations?

<p>They can lead to biased questioning. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method is characterized by a non-confrontational approach and aims to gather as much information as possible?

<p>PEACE Method (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the study by Kassin, Goldstein, and Savitsky, what effect did informing the interrogators that 'most are guilty' have?

<p>It led to more coercive questioning. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the aim of the 'Account, Clarify and Challenge' stage in the PEACE process?

<p>To evaluate the suspect's truthfulness (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the false confession rate when using the PEACE method compared to traditional methods?

<p>It decreases. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which experimental study illustrated the concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy in interrogations?

<p>Snyder &amp; Swan’s experiments (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The success of the PEACE method is described as what in terms of overall confession rates?

<p>Equivalent to traditional methods (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

False Confession

The act of confessing to a crime that you did not commit.

Police Interrogation

The process of questioning a suspect about a crime in an attempt to obtain a confession.

Eyewitness Testimony

Information gathered from witnesses who saw the crime happen.

Confession

A statement made by a suspect that admits to all or part of a crime.

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Crime Scene Evidence

Physical evidence found at the crime scene that can connect a suspect to the crime.

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First Impressions

The first impression someone makes on others, usually within the first few seconds of meeting.

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Primacy Effect

The tendency for people to put more weight on the first information they receive, even if later information contradicts it.

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Informants

Information that is gathered from reliable sources that are not directly involved in the crime.

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The ALT Key Experiment

A social psychology experiment where participants were led to believe they committed a computer error, resulting in many falsely confessing.

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False Accusation of Computer Crash

Participants in the experiment were told they had caused a computer crash by accidentally hitting the ALT key, while they were actually innocent.

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Confederate Support in False Accusation

Participants in the ALT Key Experiment were more likely to internalize the false accusation when a confederate supported it, creating an illusion of evidence.

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Confabulation in False Confessions

Participants in the ALT Key Experiment often added details to their false confession, reconstructing the event as if they had actually committed the act, demonstrating how memory can be malleable.

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Impact of Social Pressure

The ALT Key Experiment showcases how people's perceptions can be easily swayed by pressure and social influence, leading to false confessions.

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Confession-Focused Interrogation

A type of interrogation that aims to obtain a confession from the suspect, regardless of their guilt or innocence.

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Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

A phenomenon where our expectations influence our behavior, leading to confirmation of our initial beliefs.

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Reid Technique

An interrogation approach that assumes the suspect is guilty and uses pressure tactics to obtain a confession.

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PEACE Method

A method of questioning suspects that focuses on gathering information rather than obtaining a confession.

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Engage and Explain

A stage of the PEACE method where the interviewer establishes rapport and explains their role.

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Account, Clarify, and Challenge

A stage of the PEACE method where the interviewer gathers information from the suspect.

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Closure

A stage of the PEACE method where the interview is summarized and closed.

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Wishful Seeing

Our motivation influences how we see and interpret things. For example, if you're thirsty, you might be more likely to see an image of a water bottle in an ambiguous picture.

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Forensic Confirmation Bias

In criminal cases, pre-existing beliefs can affect how evidence is collected, perceived, and interpreted. This can lead to biases that influence the outcome of the case.

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Degraded Speech Studies (Forensic Confirmation Bias)

Studies using degraded speech recordings showed that people were more likely to hear incriminating words (like "gun" or "kill") when they believed the speaker was a suspect, compared to when they believed the speaker was a job applicant. This demonstrates how our beliefs can influence how we interpret ambiguous information.

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Handwriting Evidence (Forensic Confirmation Bias)

A study examined handwriting evidence in a simulated robbery case. Participants were more likely to perceive a handwriting sample as a match when they knew the suspect had confessed, even if the handwriting was actually different.

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Corruptive Confessions Hypothesis

This hypothesis suggests that false confessions can lead to a cascade of errors in a criminal case. This is because a confession can influence the way other evidence is collected and interpreted, leading to further biases and mistakes.

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Camera Perspective Bias

The camera angle used in an interrogation influences how viewers perceive the situation. If the suspect is the focus, viewers are less likely to see the interrogation as coercive and more likely to believe the confession was voluntary.

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Perceptual Salience

The tendency to attribute more influence to the person who is visually more prominent in a scene.

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Pseudoscience of Lie Detection

Techniques used in interrogations that are based on unproven or false scientific principles, such as the belief that certain behaviors indicate deception.

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False Evidence Lies

Lying to a suspect about evidence that doesn't exist, to pressure them into confessing.

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Voluntary False Confession

A false confession given freely, without external pressure or coercion. The individual may confess for various reasons, such as protecting someone, seeking fame, or attempting to alleviate guilt.

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Coerced-Compliant False Confession

A false confession made due to compliance with authority figures, even though the individual knows they are innocent. The individual may believe that confessing will lead to a shorter-term benefit, like ending an interrogation.

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Coerced-Internalized False Confession

A false confession where the individual comes to believe they committed the crime, even though they are innocent. This occurs when the individual is subjected to pressure or manipulation, leading to doubt in their own memory.

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Dispositional Risk Factors

Factors related to the individual's personality, traits, or mental state that can increase the likelihood of a false confession. These factors can include: low self-esteem, suggestibility, or intellectual disability.

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Situational Risk Factors

Factors from the environment or situation that can influence the likelihood of a false confession. These factors can include: the duration of the interrogation, the use of deception by investigators, or the absence of legal counsel.

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Innocence as a Risk Factor

The state of being innocent of a crime, which often leads to heightened vulnerability to false confessions. Innocent individuals may be more likely to doubt their memory or give in to pressure due to a lack of evidence supporting their innocence.

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Study Notes

False Confessions

  • False confessions are more common than typically presumed
  • A confession is an admission by a defendant in a criminal proceeding
  • The general rule is a confession is admissible evidence against the person who made it
  • A confession is unreliable if there is physical impossibility of committing the crime
  • The real perpetrator might be found and their guilt objectively demonstrated(e.g., DNA)
  • The confession may be unreliable if there is evidence demonstrating the defendant's innocence (e.g., DNA)

Types of False Confessions

  • Voluntary: Made without external pressure; person confesses willingly
  • Coerced-compliant: Made to escape interrogation or to receive a benefit
  • Coerced-internalized: The suspect comes to believe they committed the crime

Causes of False Confessions

  • Dispositional factors:

  • Adolescence/immaturity: Impulsivity, less consideration of long-term consequences, and higher susceptibility to outside influences

  • Intellectual disability: Heightened susceptibility to influence, reliance on authority figures, short attention span

  • Personality/psychopathology: Antisocial personality disorder, less concern for consequences, tendency to lie for short-term gain

  • Situational factors:

  • Presentation of false evidence: The suspect is shown false evidence that they committed the crime

  • Minimization/maximization: Interrogators make the crime seem less severe

  • Physical custodial isolation: Extended interrogation outside familiar surroundings

The Interview and Interrogation

  • Miranda Rights (USA) vs. Police Caution (UK):

  • USA: You do not have to say anything unless you wish to do so

  • UK: You do not have to say anything unless you wish to do so. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something what you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may become evidence during the trial. Right for attorney.

  • Reid Technique (Phase 1 BAI): A non-confrontational phase to detect deception, using a list of cues of deception.

  • Reid Technique (Phase 2 Confrontational): A confrontational phase, with a specifically designed room (small, windowless, soundproof, 2 armless chairs,1 desk, 1-way mirror). 9 steps of interrogating

The alternative - PEACE method (UK)

  • Developed because of PACE (Police & Criminal Evidence Act, 1984)
  • Non-confrontational; Gets as much info from suspect as possible.
  • Cognitive interview/conversation management: used differently for cooperative and non-cooperative suspects.

Other

  • Four possible outcomes during interrogations including false denials and false confessions
  • The problems with 1st impressions (Solomon Asch experiments)
  • The effects on the alibi witnesses (Marion et al 2016)
  • The importance of Video recordings
  • The effect of time limit on interrogations.
  • The importance of Video recordings of interrogations
  • Perceptual Salience (Fiske & Taylor, 1975); Camera perspective.
  • Forensic Confirmation Bias

Test of the Corruptive Confessions Hypotheses and Conclusion

  • Archival analysis showing increased false confession errors when multiple errors
  • DNA exonerated individuals from False confession
  • The effects of various factors (forensic expert testimony etc)
  • Importance for policy, and potential solutions

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Description

Explore the complex issue of false confessions in criminal law. This quiz covers the types, causes, and reliability of confessions, providing insights into why individuals may admit to crimes they did not commit. Analyze real-world implications and understand the factors contributing to this phenomenon.

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