Newsroom > Distinguished Professor Saul Kassin Cited in "The New Yorker" Article about Interrogations Techniques

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Distinguished Professor Saul Kassin Cited in "The New Yorker" Article about Interrogations Techniques

Distinguished Professor Saul Kassin in the Department of Psychology was cited in an entitled, “The Interview,” article by Douglas Starr in the December 9 issue of The New Yorker. The article discusses various strategies used by police and private investigators to conduct interrogations.

Starr also cited Kassin and his work extensively in an NPR Fresh Air interview that aired December 5, 2013.  To listen to the program, click here.

Professor  Kassin is interested in the identification and prevention of wrongful convictions. Starting in the 1980’s, he pioneered the scientific study of false confessions by introducing a three-part taxonomy that is universally accepted today. He also developed laboratory paradigms that are widely used to examine why people are targeted for interrogation, why they waive their rights, why they confess, the corruptive effects of confessions on other evidence, the consequences of confessions in court, and the use of video recording to alleviate these problems. He is the author with Steven Fein and Hazel Markus of the textbook Social Psychology (9th edition), published by Cengage Learning. He has also authored an introductory psychology textbook and written or edited several scholarly books, including: Confessions in the Courtroom, The Psychology of Evidence and Trial Procedure, The American Jury on Trial: Psychological Perspectives, and Developmental Social Psychology. He is past President of the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS) and has served as a consultant in a number of high profile cases and has testified in several state, federal, and military courts. He is also the senior author of the 2010 AP-LS White Paper entitled “Police-Induced Confessions: Risk Factors and Recommendations.”.