1st Edition
Investigative and Forensic Interviewing A Personality-focused Approach
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