Abstract
The effects of warning witnesses about lying (i.e., turncoat warning) and rapport building on perceptions of police interviewers were examined across two experiments. In experiment 1, participants (N = 59) were asked to assume the role of a witness when reading four interview transcript excerpts and rate the police interviewer on an eight-item attitudinal scale. Interviewers who warned witnesses about lying were viewed less favorably than when no warning was administered. Interviewers who used rapport-building techniques were viewed more favorably than those who did not attempt to build rapport. There was also a moderating interaction, whereby the use of rapport-building techniques offset the lower attitudinal ratings associated with the administration of the warning. In experiment 2, participants (N = 46) were asked to assume the role of a third party observer when reading four interview transcript excerpts and rate the police interviewer on a ten-item attitudinal scale. Results of experiment 2 replicated the findings from experiment 1. The potential implications of starting an interview by warning a witness about lying are discussed.
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MacDonald, S., Keeping, Z., Snook, B. et al. Do Not Lie to Me, or Else: the Effect of a Turncoat Warning and Rapport Building on Perceptions of Police Interviewers. J Police Crim Psych 32, 263–277 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-016-9219-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-016-9219-4