Psychology Discussion/Assignment
WEEK 3: AT A GLANCE INTERVIEWING CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
INTRODUCTION Children and adolescents are not adults. They are among the most vulnerable populations that you encounter as a forensic interviewer. They must be handled with care to protect them and the integrity of the information that they can provide. Many people worry that children are not reliable witnesses/reporters of information due to their propensity for fantasy, developmental limitations, and lack of overall maturity and resilience. Questions about their ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality as well as their understanding of the legal process and the consequences for providing faulty information have also been raised. But are these concerns valid? Are children unreliable witnesses and/or self-historians? Are they more prone to suggestion and coercion? What are the special considerations that need to be made when interviewing and evaluating children involved in the legal system?
This week, you examine the challenges involved in working with children and adolescents. You explore the importance of understanding child psychology and development, building trusting relationships, and adapting interview strategies for use with this special population.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES Students will:
Evaluate the appropriateness of strategies used in forensic interactions with children and adolescents Analyze the accuracy of child memory and issue surrounding suggestibility Analyze the use of alternative techniques such as anatomical dolls in forensic interviewing of children
DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENT RESOURCES