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Procedural: Interviewing People With Personality Disorder

NCJ Number
185687
Journal
Crime to Court Dated: November-December 2000 Pages: 13-16
Author(s)
Joseph C. Coleman
Date Published
October 2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
These guidelines for police interviews of individuals with personality disorders emphasize the need for a team approach, planning, and other techniques and provides guidance for interviews of four types of individuals: psychopaths, and individuals with narcissistic personality, paranoid personality, and paraphilic personality.
Abstract
Police personnel should consider the individual's gender, They should practice facial expressions, body language, and verbal responses that will encourage and relax the individual. Interviews of psychopaths need experienced interrogators who will not react emotionally, because psychopaths usually are above average in intelligence, are cunning, and can often outsmart others. Interview tactics are similar for the narcissistic personality. Interviewers should be aware that individuals with paranoid personalities will believe that nothing is their fault and that they are the real victims. Paraphilia personalities require interrogators who are comfortable talking about aberrant behavior. Using the skills learned, being patient, and listening will help interrogators reach the desired outcomes with each type of individual.