1. Criminal Psychology Chapter 11(b) False Confessions Talbot Kellogg Community College

2. The Nature of False Confessions Confession – An admission of guilt. Confession – An admission of guilt. False Confession – An admission of guilt by an innocent. False Confession – An admission of guilt by an innocent. A Counterintuitive Human Behavior A Counterintuitive Human Behavior Saul Kassin Saul Kassin Perhaps the tip of the iceberg. (Some issues do not appear in the data) Perhaps the tip of the iceberg. (Some issues do not appear in the data) 15 minutes of fame issues 15 minutes of fame issues

3. How new is this? 1692 Salem Witch Trials

4. Central Park Jogger Case Patricia Melty - 1989 Patricia Melty - 1989 __ suspects caught. And within __ hours, all had given detailed confessions. __ suspects caught. And within __ hours, all had given detailed confessions.

5. What does Psychology tell us? Milgram’s Obedience Study Milgram’s Obedience Study Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Zimbardo’s Prison Study Zimbardo’s Prison Study Loftus work on false memories Loftus work on false memories Confessions become reality Confessions become reality

6. What breeds obedience? 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. 4. 4.

7. Stanford Prison Study The issue of “Time”. The U.S. Supreme Court has never limited the amount of time for interrogations.

8. The interview What gets someone interviewed? A belief of _________. How good are we at detecting deception? College Students______ Polygrapher______ Psychiatrists______ Secret Service______

9. Training to improve the accuracy of detecting deception within the interview. Reed Technique Kassin & Forge (1999) Condition Laypeople Reid Training Police Detectives Accuracy Confidence __________

10. Reaction Time Tests _________ Kassim & Kiechal No Witness SLOWFAST 35% 65% 0 12% - - Witness SLOWFAST 89% 100% 44% 65% 6% 35%

11. Case Study Marty Tankleff 17 years old The crime The interview

12. Studies of Innocence Often waive their Miranda rights More open and forthcoming Give more plausible denials which trigger harsher tactics The Innocence – Confession paradox Bluff of DNA evidence.