title: How factors present during the immediate interrogation situation produce short-sighted confession decisions.
abstract: Suspects have a preexisting vulnerability to make short-sighted confession decisions, giving disproportionate weight to proximal, rather than distal, consequences. The findings of the current research provided evidence that this preexisting vulnerability is exacerbated by factors that are associated with the immediate interrogation situation. In Experiment 1 (N = 118), a lengthy interview exacerbated participants' tendency to temporally discount a distal consequence when deciding whether or not to admit to criminal and unethical behaviors. This effect was especially pronounced among less serious behaviors. In Experiment 2 (N = 177), participants' tendency to temporally discount a distal consequence when making admission decisions was exacerbated by the expectation of a lengthy interview; an effect that became stronger the longer the interview continued. These findings suggest that conditions of the immediate interrogation situation may capitalize on an already-present vulnerability among suspects to make short-sighted confession decisions, thereby increasing the chances that even innocent suspects might confess.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. madon@iastate.edu
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madon
authors.forename: Yueran
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smalarz
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guyll
authors.forename: Kyle C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Scherr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003469:Culture; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D016495:Police / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012752:Shame; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult