True vs False Remorse

The Nature of True and False Remorse: Implications for Sentencing and Parole Hearings

• Emotional deception is common and can have major consequences in sentencing and parole hearings.
• The present study investigated the nature of true and false remorse through facial, verbal, and body language behaviour associated with emotional deception.
• Nearly 300,000 frames were analyzed, revealing that descriptions of falsified remorse were associated with a greater range of emotional expressions.
• Negative emotions were more commonly followed by other emotions rather than a return to neutral emotion in falsified versus sincere remorse.
• Participants exhibited more speech hesitations while expressing deceptive relative to genuine remorse.
• Falsified remorse may be conceived as an emotionally turbulent display of deliberate falsified expression and involuntary, genuine, emotional leakage.
• People admit to using deceit in emails (14%), face-to-face interactions (27%), and phone calls (37%), and lie twice a day on average.
• Lies accompanied by false emotional displays can have major consequences at individual and societal levels.
• In sentencing and parole hearings, the presence of remorse is a major factor in decision-making.
• Judges consider the age of the victim, the duration and frequency of the crimes, the criminal record of the offender, the effects on the victim, and the presence or absence of remorse.
• Defendants who portray remorse for their actions are considered to be good candidates for treatment and rehabilitation.
• The apparent level of remorse is an important consideration when an offender is eligible for release upon parole, and many decisions are not well-informed, which can result in risky releases when offenders manipulate parole decision-makers.

Are you familiar with the different types of remorse and their implications in sentencing and parole hearings? Take this quiz to test your knowledge on the nature of true and false remorse, emotional deception, and the factors considered by judges when making decisions. Learn about the importance of genuine remorse and how it can affect an offender's chances of treatment, rehabilitation, and release on parole. Gain insight into the consequences of falsified emotional displays and the risks of manipulative behavior during parole hearings.