NCJ Number
2882
Date Published
1970
Length
17 pages
Annotation
MANNER IN WHICH CONFESSIONS ARE OBTAINED AND CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH SUBJECTS BELIEVE THEIR FALSE CONFESSIONS ARE TRUE.
Abstract
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY FOCUSING ON VARIABLES WHICH MIGHT PLAY A ROLE IN POLICE INTERROGATION IS BEM'S FALSE CONFESSION RESEARCH. HE SHOWED THAT SUBJECTS COME TO BELIEVE THAT THEIR FALSE STATEMENTS ARE TRUE WHEN EMITTED IN THE PRESENCE OF A DISCRIMINATIVE TRUTH STIMULUS. IN AN ATTEMPTED REPLICATION, THE PRESENT STUDY FOUND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT AN ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATION OF THIS FINDING, BASED UPON DECREASED VIGILANCE INDUCED BY THE TRUTH STIMULUS. IN CONTRAST, THE LIE STIMULUS WAS SHOWN TO PROMOTE MORE CAUTIOUS RESPONSE AS EVIDENCED BY BETTER RECALL, GREATER CONFIDENCE, SLOWER REACTION TIME, AND A DIFFERENT PATTERN OF PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSIVITY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)