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Encouraging eyewitnesses to falsely corroborate allegations : effects of rapport-building and incriminating evidence

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Wright, Deborah S., Nash, Robert Alastair and Wade, Kimberley A. (2015) Encouraging eyewitnesses to falsely corroborate allegations : effects of rapport-building and incriminating evidence. Psychology, Crime and Law, 21 (7). pp. 648-660. doi:10.1080/1068316X.2015.1028543 ISSN 1068-316X.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2015.1028543

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Abstract

Building rapport involves developing a harmonious relationship with another person and conveying understanding and acceptance towards that person. Law enforcement officers use rapport-building to help gather information from witnesses. But could rapport-building, in some situations, work to contaminate eyewitness testimony? Research shows that compelling incriminating evidence can lead people to corroborate false accusations made against another person. We investigated whether rapport-building – when combined with either Verbal or Verbal+Visual false evidence – might boost these corroboration rates. Subjects took part in a pseudo-gambling task, in which their counterpart was falsely accused of cheating. Using a 2 (Rapport: Rapport vs. No-rapport) × 2 (Incriminating Evidence: Verbal vs. Verbal+Visual) between-subjects design, we persuaded subjects to corroborate the accusation. We found that both rapport and verbal+visual incriminating evidence increased the compliance rate. Even when the incriminating evidence was only presented verbally, rapport-building subjects were almost three times as likely to corroborate a false accusation compared to subjects who did not undergo rapport-building. Our results suggest that although there is widespread and strong support for using rapport-building in interviews, doing so also has the potential to aggravate the contaminating power of suggestive interview techniques.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Witnesses, Interviewing in law enforcement, False testimony
Journal or Publication Title: Psychology, Crime and Law
Publisher: Routledge
ISSN: 1068-316X
Official Date: 12 March 2015
Dates:
DateEvent
12 March 2015Available
23 January 2015Accepted
6 May 2014Submitted
Volume: 21
Number: 7
Page Range: pp. 648-660
DOI: 10.1080/1068316X.2015.1028543
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
Date of first compliant deposit: 19 July 2016
Date of first compliant Open Access: 19 July 2016

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