Saul Kassin

a couple of cases came back that elicited no variability. As far as everybody was concerned, everybody was guilty. Fortunately, we also asked subjects in those studies to explain their verdict. What was the basis for your verdict? And in the cases that I recall, everybody cited a confession.

My first response was, well, that's interesting. It looks like we'll have to remove confessions from evidence in order to use cases.

My first response was, well, that's interesting. It looks like we'll have to remove confessions from evidence in order to use cases.

My first response was, well, that's interesting. It looks like we'll have to remove confessions from evidence in order to use cases.

It became a nuisance variable. So right away, we tossed out cases involving confessions because confessions were a nuisance.

It became a nuisance variable. So right away, we tossed out cases involving confessions because confessions were a nuisance.

It became a nuisance variable. So right away, we tossed out cases involving confessions because confessions were a nuisance.

I got the casebook, I did all the reading, and there was a footnote in that casebook in which they referenced an interrogation manual, the most popular interrogation manual. So I thought, wow, how interesting to see what they're doing to interrogate. And so I went to the library and pulled out that edition of that manual, and I read the book.

I got the casebook, I did all the reading, and there was a footnote in that casebook in which they referenced an interrogation manual, the most popular interrogation manual. So I thought, wow, how interesting to see what they're doing to interrogate. And so I went to the library and pulled out that edition of that manual, and I read the book.

I got the casebook, I did all the reading, and there was a footnote in that casebook in which they referenced an interrogation manual, the most popular interrogation manual. So I thought, wow, how interesting to see what they're doing to interrogate. And so I went to the library and pulled out that edition of that manual, and I read the book.

Well, for starters, the opening salvo of an interrogation was to bring in a suspect and declare an accusation of guilt.

Well, for starters, the opening salvo of an interrogation was to bring in a suspect and declare an accusation of guilt.

Well, for starters, the opening salvo of an interrogation was to bring in a suspect and declare an accusation of guilt.

We know you did this. Don't lie. In fact, I believe in that first manual, they advised the interrogator to come in with a folder full of materials and toss it on the table and said, we've got a lot of evidence against you. And they suggested doing that even if you didn't have a whole lot of evidence. So right out of the gate, I'm looking and I'm saying, OK, wow, these are powerful tactics.

We know you did this. Don't lie. In fact, I believe in that first manual, they advised the interrogator to come in with a folder full of materials and toss it on the table and said, we've got a lot of evidence against you. And they suggested doing that even if you didn't have a whole lot of evidence. So right out of the gate, I'm looking and I'm saying, OK, wow, these are powerful tactics.

We know you did this. Don't lie. In fact, I believe in that first manual, they advised the interrogator to come in with a folder full of materials and toss it on the table and said, we've got a lot of evidence against you. And they suggested doing that even if you didn't have a whole lot of evidence. So right out of the gate, I'm looking and I'm saying, OK, wow, these are powerful tactics.

These are almost Milgram-esque.

These are almost Milgram-esque.

These are almost Milgram-esque.

You must continue. The experiment requires that you continue. And the prods are designed to get a subject to first administer a 15-volt shock and then a 30-volt shock. And in 15-volt increments to bring that subject up to the point where they would be asked to administer a 450-volt shock which on Milgram's shock machine was listed as XXX severe shock.