Inside Criminal Minds: Offenders' Strategies when Lying (pages 271–281)

摘要

This study aimed at extending the deception literature by examining lie-telling strategiesngiven by persons with criminal experience. In interviews taking place in prisons, offendersn(n = 35) provided lie-telling strategies in a free narrative style. In an inductive contentnanalysis, we coded both all strategies provided as well as one principal strategy for eachnparticipant. In total, 13 strategies were identified, which were grouped into three broader categoryngroups: general verbal, general nonverbal, and specific interview strategies. The mostnoften stated strategies were Close to truth, Eye contact, and No strategy. The most often statednprincipal strategies were Close to truth, Not giving away information, and No strategy. Somenparticipants provided strategies, such as not giving away information at all in interviewsinterrogations, which showed a sophisticated understanding of the police interview situationnand the task of the police and prosecutor. Overall, the participants showed great diversity innpreferred lie-telling strategy. The results are partly in line with previous research fromnstudent samples and provide new insights into the criminally experienced individuals’ lietellingnstrategies. The results are discussed with regard to impression and informationnmanagement and police interrogation practice. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.