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Related Concept Videos

Understanding Deception01:14

Understanding Deception

Deception is a pervasive aspect of human communication. Empirical studies have shown that most individuals engage in some form of deceit on a daily basis, with approximately 20% of social exchanges involving deceptive elements. Lying follows a developmental trajectory, peaking during adolescence and declining with age, possibly due to the maturation of cognitive control and social accountability.Cognitive and Social Factors in Deception DetectionDespite its prevalence, accurately detecting...
Confirmation Biases01:31

Confirmation Biases

The confirmation bias is the tendency to focus on information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that is inconsistent with our expectations. For example, if you think that your professor is not very nice, you notice all of the instances of rude behavior exhibited by the professor while ignoring the countless pleasant interactions he is involved in on a daily basis. Have you ever fallen prey to the confirmation bias, either as the source or target of such bias?
False Memories01:18

False Memories

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One primary source of false memories is misattribution, where individuals incorrectly associate external information with...
Impression Management Techniques III: Aligning Actions01:29

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Aligning actions are communicative strategies individuals employ to maintain social harmony and preserve personal identity in the face of potential disruptions to social norms. These actions are particularly important in managing social impressions when one's behavior might be seen as inappropriate, incompetent, or morally questionable.Types of Aligning ActionsThe three principal types of aligning actions are disclaimers, accounts, and apologies.DisclaimersDisclaimers are preventive; they are...
Eyewitness Memory01:22

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Eyewitness memory refers to the recollection of events by someone who has directly witnessed them, often serving as critical evidence in legal settings. This type of memory is commonly used in criminal cases where a witness describes details like a suspect's appearance, clothing, or behavior during a crime. However, despite its perceived reliability, eyewitness memory is prone to significant errors.
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The Stanford Prison Experiment03:20

The Stanford Prison Experiment

The famous and controversial Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by social psychologist Philip Zimbardo and his colleagues at Stanford University, demonstrated the power of social roles, social norms, and scripts.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

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

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

Published on: May 3, 2016

Why confessions trump innocence.

Saul M Kassin1

  • 1John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, NY 10019, USA. skassin@jjay.cuny.edu

The American Psychologist
|May 2, 2012
PubMed
Summary

False confessions, despite contradicting factual evidence, often lead to wrongful convictions. Research shows confessions can corrupt other evidence, creating an illusion of support, necessitating reforms to mitigate these consequences.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Forensic Science
  • Law

Background:

  • False confessions are a significant cause of wrongful convictions, often overriding factual innocence.
  • Confessions are highly persuasive due to their apparent logical coherence and detailed crime facts.
  • The phenomenon of "corroboration inflation" highlights how confessions can taint other evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the persuasive power of confessions in legal contexts.
  • To analyze how false confessions can contaminate independent evidence.
  • To advocate for reforms addressing the consequences of false confessions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing research on confession evidence.
  • Analysis of case studies illustrating wrongful convictions due to false confessions.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

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

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

Published on: May 3, 2016

The Modified Temptation Resistance Task: A Paradigm to Elicit Children's Strategic Lie-telling
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The Modified Temptation Resistance Task: A Paradigm to Elicit Children's Strategic Lie-telling

Published on: April 6, 2018

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Holistic Facial Composite Creation and Subsequent Video Line-up Eyewitness Identification Paradigm

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  • Examination of the psychological mechanisms behind corroboration inflation.

    • Main Results:

    • Confessions, even false ones, contain details that lend them credibility.
    • Confessions can create an "illusion of false support" by influencing witnesses and experts.
    • Existing legal safeguards like "harmless error" may be insufficient due to evidence contamination.

    Conclusions:

    • False confessions pose a substantial risk to justice, often due to their persuasive nature.
    • The presumption of evidence independence is flawed when confessions are involved.
    • Reforms in police practices and appellate review are crucial to prevent wrongful convictions stemming from confessions.