Interrogation tactics may have downstream consequences on innocent and guilty defendants’ plea decisions.
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We examined whether interrogation tactics that imply leniency (i.e., minimization) or exaggerate seriousness and incriminating evidence (i.e., maximization) have downstream consequences on innocent and guilty defendants' plea decisions. HYPOTHESES: We predicted that (a) participants interrogated using minimization and maximization tactics would plead guilty more often than would those interrogated using control tactics; (b) guilty participants would plead guilty more often than would innocent participants; (c) the effect of interrogation tactics on plea decisions would be driven by perceived trial prospects; and (d) the effect of guilt on plea decisions would be driven by anxiety. METHOD: = 262) took part in a plea decision-making task in which they were either innocent or guilty of cheating and interrogated using control, minimization, or maximization tactics. They were then told they could contest the accusation in front of a board (proxy for trial) or admit to it for a reduced punishment (proxy for plea). They decided how to plead, evaluated the likelihood they would have been convicted by the board, and estimated the likely punishment they would have received if convicted by the board. They also rated their state anxiety. RESULTS: = 0.41). CONCLUSIONS: Interrogation tactics can have consequences outside of the interrogation context by affecting innocent and guilty defendants' later plea decisions. Such findings raise questions about the continued use of these tactics in real-world interrogations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Source: Law and Human Behavior
DOI: 10.1037/lhb0000635
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4414994306
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