The Evolution of Interrogation: From Coercion to Conversation

By: Hargis, Paige

Today's interrogation techniques represent the culmination of decades of psychological research, legal precedent, and practical experience, all aimed at balancing the need to solve crimes with the imperative to respect human dignity and rights.

In ancient and medieval times, physical torture was commonly employed as a means of extracting confessions, based on the misguided belief that pain would inevitably lead to truth. The use of torture devices, physical abuse, and prolonged suffering was not only accepted but often institutionalized as part of the judicial process.

In recent decades, interrogation has increasingly been informed by scientific research rather than tradition or intuition. Psychologists, criminologists, and other researchers have conducted extensive studies on topics such as:
The reliability of different interrogation techniques
Factors that contribute to false confessions
The psychology of confession decision-making
The effectiveness of deception detection methods
The impact of recording interrogations
The special vulnerabilities of certain populations

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FNJX4X5Z
• ISBN13: 9798299144000
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 322 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"