In this paper three criminal cases are presented where a suspicious ‘cognitive set’ or anger during experimental interrogation appeared to have a dramatic effect on their general tendency towards suggestibility. The subjects were used as their own control, as their susceptibility to suggestions had been tested objectively on two separate occasions; on one occasion they proved very resistant to suggestions, this being clearly associated with temporary suspiciousness or anger; on the other occasion, when no obvious suspiciousness or anger was evident, they proved highly suggestible. The theoretical and forensic implications of the findings are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
GudjonssonG.H. (1984) Anew scale of interrogative suggestibility. Personality and Individual Differences, 5, 303–14
2.
GudjonssonG.H. (1987) A parallel form to the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale. Br. Clin. Psychol., 26, 215–21.
3.
GudjonssonG.H. (1988). Interrogative suggestibility: its relationship with assertiveness, social-evaluative anxiety, state anxiety and method of coping. Br J. Clin. Psychol.27, 159–66.
4.
GudjonssonG.H.ClarkN.K. (1986) Suggestibility in police interrogation: a social psychological model. Social Behaviour, 1, 83–104.
5.
GudjonssonG. H.SinghK. K. (1984) Interrogative suggestibility and delinquent boys: an empirical validation study. Personality and Individual Differences, 5, 425–30.
6.
LoftusE.F. (1979) Reactions to blatantly contradictory information. Memory and Cognition, 7, 368–74.
