Do not lie to me, or else:the effect of a turncoat warning and rapport building on perceptions of police interviewers

The effects of warning witnesses about lying (i.e., turncoat warning) and rapport building on perceptions of police interviewers were examined across two experiments. In experiment 1, participants (N = 59) were asked to assume the role of a witness when reading four interview transcript excerpts and rate the police interviewer on an eight-item attitudinal scale. Interviewers who warned witnesses about lying were viewed less favorably than when no warning was administered. Interviewers who used rapport-building techniques were viewed more favorably than those who did not attempt to build rapport. There was also a moderating interaction, whereby the use of rapport-building techniques offset the lower attitudinal ratings associated with the administration of the warning. In experiment 2, participants (N = 46) were asked to assume the role of a third party observer when reading four interview transcript excerpts and rate the police interviewer on a ten-item attitudinal scale. Results of experiment 2 replicated the findings from experiment 1. The potential implications of starting an interview by warning a witness about lying are discussed