The Art of Investigative Interviewing

Book excerpt: This text details the techniques that can be used by interviewers in any setting to identify indicators of deception and respond to them appropriately. The author bases his approach on the application of the theory of human need to the process of investigative interviewing, and argues that replacing coercion and confrontation with persuasion and communication will increase the productivity of the process. Interrogators are shown how to recognize and respond to the human needs of the interviewee, thus increasing the chance that the interviewee will talk and cooperate. Other topics covered include: -- recognition of deception; responses to deception; the ethics of interrogation, preparation for the interview, and several case studies.