Overcoming Resistance in Clinical and Forensic Interviews

Abstract

Reactance is one of the most common underlying causes of resistance. Reactance, a term coined by Brehm, is the reaction that occurs when a person feels their freedom of choice is threatened. Reactance can be especially troublesome for those attempting to gather information through interviews, such as mental health or law enforcement personnel. We explore resistance and reactance, and methods identified to ameliorate these phenomena when they arise during both clinical and forensic interviewing, such as the use of particular language construction, optimal eye contact, acknowledgment of resistance, providing limited and double-bind choices, and advancing the interview through affirmative comments.

Keywords:

• Resistance
• reactance
• interviewing
• interrogation
• linguistics

Disclaimer

The opinions of the authors in this article are their own and do not in any way reflect official policy or positions of the FBI.