Investigative and Forensic Interviewing

This insightful book explores personality styles in forensic interviewing, helping professionals improve their interviewing techniques and understand interviewee behaviors.

The book Investigative and Forensic Interviewing delves into the various personality styles that are frequently encountered in the criminal justice system. It provides valuable insights on how understanding these personality types can enhance the effectiveness of interviews. Each chapter focuses on a specific personality, including narcissistic, antisocial, psychopathic, borderline, inadequate/immature, paranoid, and schizotypal traits. The authors, who are experienced forensic psychologists and former FBI investigators, begin each chapter with a vignette that illustrates the personality of an interviewee, setting the stage for deeper exploration.

In Investigative and Forensic Interviewing, readers will find detailed descriptions of how different personality styles perceive themselves and the world around them, and how these perceptions can lead to problematic behaviors. The book also offers strategies for indirectly assessing a subject through interviews with related individuals and reviewing relevant records. Investigators will learn to anticipate behaviors likely to arise during interviews and the appropriate responses to those behaviors.

Additionally, the book emphasizes the importance of nonverbal cues, such as eye contact, facial expressions, and posture, in understanding an interviewee's state of mind. It outlines effective questioning techniques tailored to each personality type. Ultimately, this resource aims to equip forensic interviewers with the tools needed to comprehend the core traits that influence an individual's responsiveness, making it an essential guide for professionals across various fields within the criminal justice system.