Lesson 6.

2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

SEQUENCE OF PRESENTATION
 Lesson Goal
 Lesson Objectives
 Interview and Interrogation.
 Strategies associated with interrogation.
 Behavioral interviewing.
 Behavioral and Verbal Indicators of Dishonesty
 Two Assumptive Questions
 Principles of Ethical Interviewing
 General Observations regarding the Verbal Patterns
of Truthful and Deceptive Persons
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

LESSON GOAL
This lesson aims to provide the participants
with a better understanding of the importance
of psychological approach to investigation.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

LESSON OBJECTIVES
After the lesson the students will be able
to:
 Differentiate the objective between
interview and interrogation;
 Enumerate the strategies associated
with interrogation;
 Define behavioral interviewing;
 List the behavioral and verbal
indicators of dishonesty;
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

LESSON OBJECTIVES
After the lesson the students will be able
to:
 Enumerate the two Assumptive
Questions;
 Enumerate the principles of Ethical
Interviewing;
 Identify some general observations
regarding the verbal patterns of
truthful and deceptive persons.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

II. INTERVIEW VS. INTERROGATION

INTERVIEW INTERROGATION
A “conversation A face-to-face
with a purpose” but in meeting with a
criminal cases, much subject with the
more than distinct objective of
conversational skill is gaining an admission
required. or a confession in a
real or apparent
violation of law or
policy.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

II. INTERVIEW VS. INTERROGATION

INTERVIEW INTERROGATION
Objective is to gain Objective is to gain
information. a confession.
The goal is to The goal is to
collect truthful data to acquire information
be used for decision- and persuade other
making and action persons to cooperate.
taking.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

A. Variety of Coercive Strategies associated with Interrogation

 ‘Traditional’ third degree - direct application

of physical violence on the suspects until
they confess.
 ‘Covert’ third degree - physical torture that
do not leave external signs of abuse.
 ‘Psychological’ third degree - non-
physical forms of coercion.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

B. Legal Consideration
Law enforcement agencies are required to
relay certain warnings (established by the
Miranda Rule) prior to any custodial
interrogation which includes the suspect’s
privilege against self-incrimination and his or
her right to the presence and advice of an
attorney.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

C. Behavioral Interviewing
 Behavioral techniques can be used by
police in interviews and interrogations to
determine whether the person interviewed
is telling the truth.
 Behavioral interviewing means asking
questions designed to provoke behavioral
responses such as fidgeting, stammering or
evasion.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

C. Behavioral Interviewing
 It is important that the interviewer
"actively listen" to both verbal and
nonverbal communication processes
throughout the interview. The interviewer
must read clusters of behavior and may not
rely on a single observation.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

C. Behavioral Interviewing
 The investigator looks for both verbal and
non-verbal cues to deception, and if he
senses that the suspect is guilty, an
accusatory interview commences.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

III. Behaviors that may indicate Dishonesty

1. Posture
 Slumping over or leaning back in the chair.
 Sitting in a way that protects the
abdomen.
 Shifting position in the chair.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

III. Behaviors that may indicate Dishonesty

2. Hands and Arms

 Placing the hands over the mouth to
muffle words or hide expressions.
 Arms crossed with the thumbs extended.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

III. Behaviors that may indicate Dishonesty

3. Legs and Feet
 Movement of the legs and feet;
 Legs crossed with the knee raided to
protect abdomen;
 Legs crossed with arms holding the leg in
place as a barrier.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

III. Behaviors that may indicate Dishonesty

4. Head and Neck
 Head down can indicate a negative
attitude or submission.
 Head back looking down the nose.
 Head nodding or head shaking.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

III. Behaviors that may indicate Dishonesty

5. Verbal Indicators of Dishonesty

 Skipping around in sentences.  Asking the interviewer “Are you

accusing me?”
 Leaving sentences.  Giving very short answers.
 Inappropriate laughter.  Over generalization (any, all,
never, always, etc)
 Repeating the interviewer question.  Saying “I can’t recall”.
 Asking the interviewer to repeat the
question.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

III. Behaviors that may indicate Dishonesty

6. Phrases indicating that the subject is going

to finish the sentence with a lie:
 I swear to God that I didn’t…
 To tell you the truth…
 To the best of my knowledge…
 You may not believe this but…
 I know this sounds strange but…
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

III. Behaviors that may indicate Dishonesty

7. Submission
 Lack of denials;
 Slumped posture;
 Eyes looking down;
 Teary eyes or crying;
 Letting out a sigh.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

IV. Two Assumptive Questions

A.The Choice Question

The interviewer may emphasize either
the good or the bad choice.

B. The Soft Accusation

The interviewer asks a broad question
about the incident that assumes the
subject’s involvement.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

V. Principles of Interviewing
 Interviews should be conducted with integrity,
common sense and sound judgment.
 Using unfair means to get a confession is never
justified.
 Interviewers must avoid unethical behaviors
such as making threats or promises or using
coercive and oppressive tactics.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

V. Principles of Interviewing
 Ethical interviewing involves treating the
suspect with respect and being open-minded,
tolerant and impartial.
 If offenders believe they have been treated well
they are less likely to form a negative view of
police or to communicate a negative view of
police to others.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

V. Principles of Interviewing

 Many miscarriages of justice have resulted from

police malpractice.
 Police must be aware of why some people will
make false confessions
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

VI. Developing an Interview Strategy

By preparing an interview strategy, the
investigator:
A. Makes certain that all of the necessary
questions are asked during the interview;
B. Does not have to spend time thinking about
what question to ask next;
C. Becomes a well prepared proficient and a
difficult person to lie to.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

VII. Conducting Interview

A. The investigators should introduce

themselves and identify the office they
represent.
B. A clear statement of the purpose for the
interview;
C. The statement of purpose should provide
a reason for cooperation.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

VIII. Introductory Statement

At the outset of the interview, the
investigator should provide the suspect with an
overview of the interview coupled with a
statement emphasizing the importance of
being completely truthful.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

IX. Building Rapport

A. Discussing non-threatening topics will put the
person at ease.

B. The questions asked by the interviewer during

the rapport building process should not be
personal. These questions can be as simple as
verifying their address, phone number, the
spelling of a name or work history.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

IX. Building Rapport

C. For interviewers who prefer to evaluate

behavioral and physiological responses to
questions, the rapport building process allows
them to establish the subject’s normal
responses to questions.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

X. Active Listening

Active listening begins by putting

interviewees at ease and letting them know
what they say is important.

1.Head nods
2.Body language that suggest interests.
3.Brief statement like “yes, I see” , “go
on”
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

XI. Ability to read Body Language

The investigator needs to be aware of the
following:
 Interviewee's nonverbal behavior;
 Interviewee’s hesitation or pause before
or during a response to certain
questions in order to think about and
formulate an answer;
 Interviewee’s body language to give
context to verbal communication.
Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

XII. General observations of Body Language

Responses
A. Failing to exhibit any facial expression
indicates deception;

B. Facial color changes may be revealing,

such as blanching, blushing, etc.;

C. Truthful persons look at their interviewers

longer during the interview than do
deceptive persons.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

XIII. Body Postures for Truthful Interviewees

 Open, upright and comfortable;

 Aligned frontally to face the interviewer
directly;
 Leaning forward with interest;
 Relaxed, casual, with some nervousness
or excitement;
 Smooth in its changes, with no pattern.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

XIV. Body Postures for Deceptive Interviewees

 Slouched in chair, preventing the

interviewer from getting close;
 Unnaturally rigid;
 Lacking frontal alignment;
 Tending to retreat behind physical barriers;
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

XVI. Body Postures of Deceptive Interviewees

 Erratic in its changes (can't sit still);

 Closed (elbows close to sides, hands folded
in their lap, legs and ankles crossed);
 A "runners position" (one foot back ready to
push off);
 Exhibiting head and body slump.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

XV. General Observations on Verbal Patterns

A. Deceptive persons tend to deny their

wrongdoing specifically while the truthful
person will deny the problem in general.

B. Deceptive persons tend to avoid realistic or

harsh language while the truthful do no
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

XV. General Observations on Verbal Patterns

C. Truthful persons generally answer specific
inquiries with direct and spontaneous
answers. The answers are "on time" with
no behavioral pause.

D. Deceptive persons may fail to answer or

delay answers. They may ask to have the
question repeated or repeat the question
asked. This allows them time to think of an
answer.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

XV. Genera Observations on Verbal Patterns

E. Deceptive persons may have a memory

failure or have too good a memory.

F. Deceptive persons tend to qualify their

answers more than truthful persons.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

XV. General Observations on Verbal Patterns

G. Deceptive persons may evade answering by

talking off the subject.

H. Deceptive persons may support their

answers with religion or oaths. The truthful
rarely employ this tactic.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

XV. General Observations on Verbal Patterns

I. Deceptive persons tend to be overly polite
and it is more difficult to arouse their anger.
The truthful will be quick to anger and any
denial will grow stronger.

J. Deceptive persons may feign indignation or

anger initially but will quit as the interview
continues.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

XV. General Observations on Verbal Patterns

K. A final caution: effective use and

interpretation of body language requires
training and practice.
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

XVI. Summary
We have discussed the following by:

 Differentiating the objective of interview

and interrogation,
 Enumerating the strategies associated with
interrogation,
 Defining behavioral interviewing,
 Listing the behavioral and verbal indicators
of dishonesty,
 Lesson 6.2 Psychological Approach in Investigation

XVI. Summary
• We have discussed the following by:

• Enumerating the two assumptive question,

• Enumerating the principles of Ethical
Interviewing, and
• Identifying some general observations
regarding the verbal patterns of truthful
and deceptive persons.