Critical Issues in Forensic Psychology: False Confessions

By David A Webb

The topic of false confessions is another very important issue within a legal context where psychological knowledge and expertise can be brought be bear. Psychological vulnerabilities and interrogative circumstances are two of the key areas that have been examined by psychologists in relation to false confessions.
The reason that the study of false confessions is such an important topic within forensic psychology is that research into the reliability of testimony and suggestibility is as old as the discipline itself.
Hugo Munsterberg
In 1908 Hugo Munsterberg published 'On The Witness Stand: Essays on Psychology And Crime'. One of these essays was entitled 'Untrue Confessions'. The writing of Hugo Munsterberg was not only groundbreaking but also very perceptive. In the first sentence of his essay on false confessions he stated that:
I am most seriously convinced that it is a tragedy not only of crime but also of human error and miscarried justice, and my scientific conscience as a psychologist compels me to speak of it because the tragedy of yesterday may come up again, in some other form, tomorrow
Munsterberg's contention that false confessions were a normal phenomena triggered by unusual circumstances was most recently brought to light in the circumstances surrounding the John Mark Karr case. In relation to the unsolved murder of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey, John Mark Karr claimed that he was present when Ramsey died and that her death was an accident. Authorities were made aware of Karr via the e-mail correspondence he had with Michael Tracey, a journalism professor at the University of Colorado. Karr was arrested in Bangkok returned to the USA for questioning. Shortly after, prosecutors announced they would not be pursuing charges in connection with the murder after DNA tests failed to place Karr at the scene.
Theoretical explanations for the psychology of false confessions
The work of Kassin and Wrightsman in the USA and Gudjonsson in the UK has done a great deal to further our understanding of the psychology of false confessions. To find out more about this work, along with links to a number of excellent resources on the subject of false confessions visit my main forensic psychology website.
Have Your Say
So what do think about the issue of false confessions? Why not post your views over at the All About Forensic Psychology Forum?
http://forensicpsychology.s4.bizhat.com/
Find Out More
If you would like to find out more about false confessions, there is a detailed page dedicated to it on my forensic psychology website.
http://www.all-about-forensic-psychology.com/false-confessions.html
About The Author
I have a first class honours degree in psychology and a Masters in Occupational psychology from the University of Sheffield (UK). For a number of years, I was a lecturer in psychology at the University of Huddersfield (UK). In 2003 I moved to sunny Spain with my family where I now work as a distance learning tutor and research dissertation supervisor.
It was as a result of my research activity that I ended up pursuing an interest in forensic psychology. Since 2000, I've been involved in collaborative research with teams of forensic odontologists (dentists) in the UK, US and Canada. Being involved and conducting research with a group that operates under the umbrella of forensic science meant that I had the opportunity to attend a number of forensic science conferences. Most of the conferences had a forensic psychology or behavioural science section; and as a result of attending presentations on topics such as criminal profiling, my interest in Forensic Psychology was ignited.
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Tips for Successful Conversations with Humans on Planet Earth

By Eugenia Tripputi

"Talk to Me, I’m Human!" Have you ever felt like telling (or worse—yelling!) this or a similar phrase to your boss, a coworker, or significant other with whom it seems impossible to have a conversation? In a world that prides itself for its advances in technology, we have surely gone backwards in some areas of communication, namely forgetting to use "the basics." I have found that we usually have no problems IMing (instant messaging) a cousin or brother across the planet but freeze up or utter the wrong words when we have to express ideas, confront conflict, or resolve interpersonal issues with the person working two cubicles down from ours.
But, do not despair; there is help! Remembering some fundamentals of conversations is a wonderful beginning, and you can be the initiator of change:
No matter what title or personality style, people like to be talked with… Regardless of the actions individuals exhibit, we are adults —even if sometimes we do not behave as such. And each of us has a responsibility to make dialogue happen in a constructive way.
Talk with—not to or down—other people on a regular basis, even if it means saying "hello" every morning. Developing
relationships, building trust, and establishing good communication is a process not a single event.
Choose your timing wisely. Allow enough time and pick a date that is convenient for all the parties involved. We all have things in our minds, so, get into the habit of checking with the other person to see if the timing is right.
Select the right place. If this is a work-related conversation, depending on the tone you want to set, an office or conference room should be chosen for more formal occasions. Finding neutral, more relaxed environments where you can minimize territoriality issues tend to be ideal. Be mindful of privacy and comfort levels with locations. If this is a personal conversation, opt for the good, old-fashioned "going out for coffee" strategy. But, choose a place quiet and private enough to talk.
Have your discussions earlier rather than waiting until the last minute when it might be too late to address an issue or too emotionally charged. In other words, get into the habit of not letting things that bother you fester. Think about it as a wound. Unless you take care of it immediately, it will be much harder (or messy) to treat after some time.
Try your best to start your conversation with something positive, even it is "wanting to resolve the issue between you." If it comes from the heart and is true, you are increasing your likelihood of being heard and trusted. If this is a personal conversation, highlight how important the individual and the relationship are to you.
Talk to the whole individual, not just "the person you have an issue with" or "the worker bee." Humans bring their physical and emotional self everywhere they go. It is extremely hard to leave the emotions at home or to forget about work after hours. Honor this fact. In reality, you do not know what is going on for this person at work or in his/her private life.
Be clear about what you would like to discuss with this individual either before or at the beginning of the meeting, so you can focus on what needs to be resolved and do not go off on tangents. It is very easy to look for distractions, particularly for people who are not comfortable talking.
Stop the conversation if you find yourself being distracted, need to leave, or it gets out of hand. Resuming your talk later is better than to be rushed or regret something you might say but not mean.
Get into the habit of doing most of the listening
and less of the talking.
Pay attention to the verbal and non-verbal cues
that the other person has demonstrated in other occasions as well as during your conversations. Oftentimes people will say one thing with words but the body language communicates something different. Remember that over 90 percent of communication happens non-verbally.
"When in doubt, check it out!"
Assumptions are the worst conversation enemies. When you hear something that you are not sure about, particularly something that bothers you, ask the person what they meant or request further clarification. Do not automatically think the worst!
Intentionally communicate with your whole self.
If you can and know how to do it, match your body language cues to what you are saying or you risk losing credibility.
Find ways to show genuine interest in what the other person has to say.
Practice "quieting your mind." You do not have to have an answer ready at all times. And it’s ok to say, "I don’t know but I’ll find out and will get back to you," if necessary.
Humans prefer to communicate in different ways.
These preferences are usually at the core of each individual’s being, and, oftentimes, he or she might not even be aware of them!
"Know thyself first." We tend to see the world through our own set of lenses, unless we make a conscious effort to see things from someone else’s point of view. This takes practice and comes naturally to only a few privileged people. The rest of us need to work at it!
Unless you communicate on the same—or at least similar wavelength—it will be hard to get your messages across and get to a positive outcome that will produce lasting behavioral change. The effort can start with you!
There is enough pain and suffering to go around nowadays. Think about it: in the scheme of things, what we tend to be offended or argue about on a regular basis is very trivial. The next time you are facing a conversation challenge, pick two or three of these suggestions and put them into practice. You will be amazed at the results and how some simple things can have a huge impact—here—on planet earth.
For almost 20 years, Eugenia has held several leadership and managerial positions creating and heading training, professional development, and human resources programs as well as has consulted for Fortune 500 corporations and non-profit agencies in the United States and Latin America. Her educational foundation includes a Masters degree in Counseling from Seattle University and a Bachelor’s from CSUH in Human Development. Eugenia's unique creations, including employee and career development resources, workshops, and innovative training materials, have earned her numerous awards and recognition. Her latest innovative products, "Talk to Me... I'm Human" Interpersonal Communication Tools and the Career Journey Toolkit, are a reflection of her commitment to providing individuals with practical products for personal and professional growth.
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Psychology and Human Development

The Department of Psychology and Human Development is a group of scholars who work to increase understanding of basic psychological functioning in family, school, and other social contexts that influence development.

Our graduate programs, which are included in the Psychological Sciences major offered jointly with the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Science, include clinical science, cognitive and cognitive neuroscience, developmental science, neuroscience, and quantitative methods and evaluation. For information about our graduate programs, click here.

The department also is the home of a Master of Education program in Child Studies as well as undergraduate majors in Child Development, Cognitive Studies, and Child Studies.

The research efforts of our department are focused on increasing understanding of basic psychological processes and applying this knowledge of infant, adolescent, and adult functioning, emphasizing the family, school, and other social contexts that influence development. Department faculty are accomplished and nationally known. Many serve as editors of psychological journals, members of national review panels, and leaders in national organizations. All are authors of numerous scientific articles and chapters.

While faculty members in Psychology share a common interest in psychological processes and their development, our specific interests and expertise are diverse. Some are committed to increasing understanding of basic psychological processes, while others emphasize implications for clinical, social and educational issues. To learn more about us, look through the faculty page. Many faculty members also have homepages that provide more detailed information on individual and collaborative research programs.

In addition to our close relationship with the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Science, our department also maintains strong collaborative ties with other Peabody departments: Special Education, with emphases on children with disabilities and their development; Teaching and Learning, with emphases on learning processes in young school age and adolescent children; and Human and Organizational Development, with emphases on group processes, community issues and organizational development.

Faculty email addresses are listed on the faculty page.
from :http://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/x776.xml