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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 9, 2026

An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
07:36

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Published on: May 3, 2016

Inside interrogation: the lie, the bluff, and false confessions.

Jennifer T Perillo1, Saul M Kassin

  • 1Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 445 West 59 Street, New York, NY 10019, USA.

Law and Human Behavior
|August 25, 2010
PubMed
Summary

The bluff tactic in interrogations, where false evidence is implied, significantly increases false confessions. Innocent individuals may confess due to perceived promises of exoneration, even with mild tactics.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Legal Psychology

Background:

  • Interrogation tactics can influence confession rates.
  • The false evidence ploy is a known interrogation technique.
  • The 'bluff tactic' is a less deceptive variant, implying evidence without direct accusation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of the bluff tactic on confession rates.
  • To compare the effect of bluffing to the presentation of false evidence.
  • To explore the psychological reasons behind confessions induced by the bluff tactic.

Main Methods:

  • Three experiments were conducted.
  • Utilized the Kassin and Kiechel computer crash paradigm.
  • Employed a variant of the Russano et al. cheating paradigm.

Main Results:

  • Bluffing significantly increased false confessions, comparable to presenting false evidence.
  • Innocent participants perceived the bluff as a promise of exoneration, facilitating confession.
  • The bluff effect was replicated on innocent suspects, though a ceiling effect occurred in guilty conditions.

Conclusions:

  • The bluff tactic is an effective, albeit ethically questionable, interrogation technique.
  • The perception of innocence and potential exoneration can lead innocent individuals to confess.
  • Even relatively benign interrogation tactics can elicit false confessions from innocent suspects.