University of Twente Student Theses
Getting into the minds of suspects : an examination of their influencing behaviours in investigative interviews
Eggers, J. (2022) Getting into the minds of suspects : an examination of their influencing behaviours in investigative interviews.
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| Abstract: | This research explored different behaviours suspects employ to influence the perception of the interviewer in the context of an investigative interview. Specifically, the research examined how suspects’ use of behaviours was impacted by evidence disclosure timing and the strength of evidence. The research consisted of a 2x2 between-subjects design using evidence disclosure timing (early versus late) and strength of evidence (weak versus strong) as the independent variables to determine their effect on suspects' use of influencing behaviours in an experimental setting. Participants (N = 101) were assigned to one of four experimental conditions and interviewed online. Transcripts of interviews were coded and analysed using the taxonomy of influencing behaviours developed by Watson et al., (2021). The results of this study identified 15 behaviours suspects employed to influence the perception of the interviewer (as opposed to 18 behaviours from Watson et al., (2021)). Beyond the original taxonomy, this research observed another influencing behaviour, labelled information seeking. The research found that while suspects employed a moderate range of influencing behaviours, there was only a small number of behaviours that were employed by almost all suspects. The results also showed that evidence disclosure timing and strength of evidence had a bearing on the behaviours suspects employed to influence the perception of the interviewer. When weak evidence was presented in the interview, there was a stronger tendency towards instrumental behaviours. Then, suspects employed behaviours which directly dealt with and accounted for the evidence presented. However, when strong evidence was presented in the interview, there was a stronger tendency towards relational behaviours. Then, suspects shifted away from concrete arguments and toward minimisation |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/89434 |
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