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Unmaking a murderer: behaviour sequence analysis of false confessions

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • David A. Keatley
  • Abbie Marono
  • David D. Clarke
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>1/06/2018
<mark>Journal</mark>Psychiatry, Psychology and Law
Issue number3
Volume25
Number of pages12
Pages (from-to)425-436
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date31/05/18
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

The causes of false confessions are an important issue in legal studies and forensics. Recent advances in DNA testing have increased the number of proven false confessions; however, there are probably many cases without scientific evidence to refute the guilty verdict. The current research provides a novel approach to understand the structure and process of police interrogation techniques, in the United States behaviour sequence analysis. This method allows complex interactions in interrogations to be broken down and the progression of techniques analysed clearly. A case study is provided of an individual who confessed to a series of very serious crimes. The results show that several psychological techniques, such as leading statements, pressure, empathy, and inducements, are used, in increasing frequency, which resulted in the suspect's confession. This research provides support for behaviour sequence analysis as a new method to understand the structure of police interrogations and how psychological techniques may be used to gain false confessions.