Interrogations-and-Confessions-Handbook

Suggestibility: Historical and Theoretical Aspects 349
Figure 13.1. A theoretical model of interrogative suggestibility. I/P = interpersonal
(reproduced by permission from Gudjonsson & Clark, 1986)
Interpersonal trust is another important prerequisite for yielding to suggestions.
It means that the interviewee believes that the interrogator’s intentions
are genuine and that there is no trickery involved in the questioning. Interviewees
who are suspicious of the interrogator’s intentions will be reluctant to
accept suggestions offered, even under conditions of increased uncertainty.
It is evident from the above discussion that uncertainty must be present
in order for a response to suggestion to occur. In addition, leading questions
must be sufficiently subtle that they are perceived as being plausible, believable