Psychology Discussion/Assignment

EDICTING THE BEHAVIOR OF AN ADULT INTERVIEWEE

Important Note: For all Discussions in this course, you are required to complete your initial Discussion assignment post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link, and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking Submit!

One of the best ways to assess truthfulness is to observe the nonverbal behavior of interviewees as they tell their stories. A forensic interviewer will make note of an interviewee whose nonverbal behavior seems inappropriate or inconsistent with his or her words. For example, you might expect a guilty person to fidget or avoid eye contact, but you might be surprised at the same behaviors from an innocent bystander.

In this Discussion, you and your colleagues read a scenario about Jane Doe, a victim of long-term domestic abuse. You are asked to predict the behavior that an individual, such as Jane Doe, would exhibit during a forensic interview. You also identify additional behaviors that would cause you to doubt her truthfulness.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Read the “Predicting the Behavior of an Adult Interviewee” scenario. Read Chapter 9 in the Gordon & Fleisher text. Watch the TED Talk with Elizabeth Loftus.

RESOURCES

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

Post your response to the following:

Discuss your prediction of how Jane Doe, the victim in the scenario, would behave during a forensic interview. Be specific in describing behavioral responses you would expect. Discuss what types of behaviors you would not expect from Jane Doe. Review the types of behaviors that would lead you to think that Jane Doe was lying to you. Identify some of the problems with eyewitness memory identified in the TED Talk by Elizabeth Loftus that might apply to an interview with Jane Doe.

Note: Support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources and any additional sources you identify using both in-text citations and complete references in APA format.

Read a selection of your colleagues' postings.

Respond to at least two of your colleagues' initial Discussion assignment postings in one or more of the following ways:

Expand on your colleague’s description of expected behaviors. Provide alternative explanations for behaviors that your colleague perceived to be deceptive (indicators of lying). Ask a probing question and provide insight into how you would answer your question and why. Ask a probing question, and provide the foundation, or rationale for the question. Expand on your colleague’s posting by offering a new perspective or insight. Agree with a colleague and offer additional (new) supporting information for consideration. Disagree with a colleague by respectfully discussing and supporting a different perspective.

BY DAY 3

BY DAY 5