1st Edition

Investigative and Forensic Interviewing A Personality-focused Approach

    196 Pages 8 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Investigative and Forensic Interviewing: A Personality-Focused Approach looks at the personality styles most commonly encountered in the criminal justice system and demonstrates how to use this insight to plan and conduct a productive interview. The book includes chapters on narcissistic, antisocial, psychopathic, borderline, inadequate/immature, paranoid, and schizotypal personalities. Written by forensic psychologists and former FBI investigators, each chapter begins with a vignette that displays the personality of an interviewee investigators might encounter in a forensic setting and then covers:

    • Descriptions of how each personality style views him or herself and the world, and how these views lead to problematic behavior
    • Ways to indirectly assess a subject through interviews with associated others, and through review of records
    • Behaviors investigators are likely to encounter during the interview, and responses those behaviors may provoke
    • Clues garnered from nonverbal behavior, including eye contact, facial expressions, and posture
    • What type of questions to ask, and how to ask them

    Finally, each chapter applies all of this information to an actual interview based on the opening vignette. This book is not for diagnosing personality disorders, but rather exists to help forensic interviewers understand the core traits that influence people’s responsiveness. This personality-focused approach is helpful for professionals in a variety of areas including police, attorneys, parole officers, mental health workers, and others who interview witnesses, suspects, and offenders throughout the criminal justice system.

    Chapter 1 Introduction
    Purpose of This Book
    How to Use This Book
    Vignette
    Description of the Personality
    Assessing the Individual
    Preparation Issues
    The Interview
    Key Points to Remember
    Interview versus Interrogation
    Legal and Policy Considerations
    Reference
    Chapter 2 The Narcissistic Personality
    Introduction
    Description of the Oblivious Narcissist
    Assessing the Oblivious Narcissist
    Preparation Issues
    Understanding Your Reactions to the Individual
    Who Should Conduct the Interview
    Number of Interviewers
    Physical Space/Environment/Interpersonal Space
    Nonverbal Behavior
    Questions
    Recording the Interview (Notetaking, Audio/Video Recording)
    Time Frame
    The Interview
    Key Points to Remember
    Do
    Don’t
    Description of the Vulnerable Narcissist
    Assessing the Vulnerable Narcissist
    Preparation Issues
    Understanding Your Reactions to the Individual
    Who Should Conduct the Interview
    Number of Interviewers
    Physical Space/Environment/Interpersonal Space
    Nonverbal Behavior
    Questions
    Recording the Interview (Notetaking, Audio/Video Recording)
    Time Frame
    The Interview
    Key Points to Remember
    Do
    Don’t
    References
    Chapter 3 The Antisocial Personality
    Description of the Antisocial Personality
    Assessing the Antisocial Personality
    Important Areas and Nature of Inquiry
    Questions
    Sources of Information
    Preparation Issues
    Understanding Your Reactions to the Individual
    Who Should Conduct the Interview
    Number of Interviewers
    Physical Space/Environment/Interpersonal Space
    Nonverbal Behavior
    Questions
    Recording the Interview (Notetaking, Audio/Video Recording)
    Time Frame
    Review of Records
    The Interview
    Key Points to Remember
    Do
    Don’t
    Reference
    Chapter 4 The Psychopathic Personality
    Description of the Psychopathic Personality
    Views of Self and Others
    Low Levels of Fear and Anxiety
    Emotional Deficiencies
    Associated Features
    Assessing the Psychopathic Personality
    Core Questions
    The Disciplined Psychopath
    The Undisciplined Psychopath
    Preparation Issues
    Understanding Your Reactions to the Individual
    Who Should Conduct the Interview
    Number of Interviewers
    Physical Space/Environment/Interpersonal Space
    Nonverbal Behavior
    Questions
    Recording the Interview (Notetaking, Audio/Visual Recording)
    Time Frame
    The Interview
    Attacking and/or Hostile Behavior
    Friendly and Charming Behavior
    Sexually Manipulative Behavior
    "Game" Behavior
    General Considerations
    Key Points to Remember
    Do
    Don’t
    Reference
    Chapter 5 The Borderline Personality
    Description of the Borderline Personality
    Assessing the Borderline Personality
    Preparation Issues
    Understanding Your Reactions to the Individual
    Who Should Conduct the Interview
    Number of Interviewers
    Physical Space/Environment/Interpersonal Space
    Nonverbal Behavior
    Questions
    Recording the Interview (Notetaking, Audio/Video Recording)
    The Interview
    Key Points to Remember
    Do
    Don’t
    References
    Chapter 6 The Inadequate / Immature Personality
    Description of the Inadequate/Immature Personality
    Assessing the Inadequate/Immature Personality
    Preparation Issues
    Understanding Your Reactions to the Individual
    Who Should Conduct the Interview
    Number of Interviewers
    Physical Space/Environment/Interpersonal Space
    Nonverbal Behavior
    Questions
    Recording the Interview (Notetaking, Audio/Video Recording)
    Time Frame
    The Interview
    Key Points to Remember
    Do
    Don’t
    Reference
    Chapter 7 The Paranoid Personality
    Description of the Paranoid Personality
    Assessing the Paranoid Personality
    Preparation Issues
    Understanding Your Reactions to the Individual
    Who Should Conduct the Interview
    Number of Interviewers
    Physical Space/Environment/Interpersonal Space
    Nonverbal Behavior
    Questions
    Recording the Interview (Notetaking, Audio/Video Recording)
    Time Frame
    The Interview
    Key Points to Remember
    Do
    Don’t
    References
    Chapter 8 The Schizotypal Personality
    Describing the Schizotypal Personality
    Assessing the Schizotypal Personality
    Preparation Issues
    Understanding Your Reactions to the Individual
    Who Should Conduct the Interview
    Number of Interviewers
    Physical Space/Environment/Interpersonal Space
    Nonverbal Behavior
    Questions
    Recording the Interview (Notetaking, Audio/Video Recording)
    Time Frame
    The Interview
    Key Points to Remember
    Do
    Don’t
    References
    Appendix A
    The Dimensional View of Personality
    Personality: A Constellation of Traits
    The Personality Continuum: Style versus Disorder
    The Relationships Between Personality Types
    Borderline, Narcissistic, and Antisocial Personalities
    Narcissistic, Antisocial, and Psychopathic Personalities
    The Borderline, Narcissistic, Antisocial, Psychopathic Continuum
    References
    Appendix B: Glossary
    Index

    Biography

    Craig N. Ackley, M.S., is a former supervisory special agent with the FBI. He retired from the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) of the FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime where he provided psychological and behavioral support primarily in the areas of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and homicide. He is currently the president of Behavioral Science Education and Consultation Services, Inc.

    Shannon McAuliffe Mack, M.A., is a former senior research analyst with the FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, where she provided research support and case-specific operational assistance. She is currently vice president of Behavioral Science Education and Consultation Services, Inc., where she provides operational assistance and training in the areas of trial strategy, interview strategy, and case analysis.

    Kristen Beyer, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist who formerly worked in the FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime as the supervisory social/behavioral science research coordinator where she provided consultation, training, and research on violent crime matters. She is currently a consultant with Behavioral Science Education and Consultation Services, Inc. and an adjunct professor.

    Philip Erdberg, PhD, is a diplomate in clinical psychology of the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is a past president of the Society for Personality Assessment, the 1995 recipient of the Society’s Distinguished Contribution Award, and the 2001 recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Forensic Mental Health Association of California. He consults in a variety of school, clinical, correctional, and law enforcement settings and is a frequent workshop presenter.

    The book takes a user-friendly approach in following a uniform structure for each chapter, consisting of a description of the relevant personality disorder, preparing for the interview, conducting the interview, and key "dos-and-don’ts" points. … the present volume’s many cooks have managed to produce a tasty, digestible, and nourishing broth of useful knowledge that can enhance the productivity of clinical and forensic investigations alike.
    —Laurence Miller, PhD, in International Journal of Emergency Mental Health