Interrogation

[Flickr Photo: Interrogation, by: Eugene Li . CC License.]

In this particular scenario, psychologists use their knowledge of the human mentality to encourage another individual to confess or share information. They do this by using several techniques to their advantage. In addition to this they also study a person’s mental health. They often supervise in interrogations and are even contracted by the military and police.

Police Interrogators

They are considered to be officers of the law. They use their skills in order to:

  • Make sure a person is capable of attending trial
  • Help children, officers, and others work through traumatic experiences

Location

Sometimes these interrogations take place in more local areas such as a town’s police department. Other times they work with international agencies, like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), in different areas around the globe.

Interrogations in local areas are both ethical and more accepted by the law and the American Psychological Association (APA).

Controversy

It is believed that some of these interrogation techniques are unacceptable due to their manipulative and traumatic nature. Some of these examples would be:

  • Waterboarding
  • Seclusion
  • Sleep deprivation

Alternatives

There are various tactics that can be used that aren’t nearly as controversial as the ones stated above. Some of them include:

  • Persuading the person being interviewed
  • Using hormones or phenomes that can encourage individuals to say the truth and avoid misleading responses

An article explaining additional information can be found here: https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/PSYCHOLOGY-IN-INTERROGATION-TACTICS