Witness and Suspect Perceptions of Working Alliance and Interviewing Style

Abstract

Considerable emphasis is placed on the importance of building rapport when interviewing witnesses and suspects. Despite the abundant literature on the working alliance in therapeutic settings, however, few studies have addressed the topic of 'rapport' in investigative interviewing. Conceptual analysis revealed a number of similarities between the two constructs. This finding suggests the possible benefits of using the theoretical therapeutic construct and operationalisation of the working alliance in order to gain insight into the dynamics of investigative interviewing in a police context.The present study examines the perceptions of witnesses and suspects regarding the working alliance in actual interviews. It also considers their perceptions of interviewing style, which is another key element in investigative interviewing. In addition, the study investigates the relationship between the working alliance and the interview style. Selfreport questionnaires completed by investigators and interviewees showed significant differences between investigators and suspects and between witnesses and suspects with regard to perceptions of interview style and the working alliance during interviews. The results showed perceived interview style to be a predictor of the working alliance.

Emotional Intelligence in Police Interviews—Approach, Training and the Usefulness of the Concept

“…All these different ways of approaching emotional states to facilitate rapport resonates well with a humanitarian interviewing style described earlier (Holmberg, 2004;Holmberg & Christianson, 2002). Such an approach has proved to have a positive impact on the development of a working alliance with interviewees (Vanderhallen & Vervaeke, 2014;Vanderhallen et al, 2011) along with the amount of information generated and -being .…”

“…In short, a relationship that facilitates communication and achieves investigative aims. Vanderhallen, Vervaeke, and Holmberg (2011) have provided a conceptual analysis of rapport in forensic settings, suggesting it consists of a relationship that provides warmth, is harmonious and natural, offers trust, and stimulates cooperation. They underline the close relationship between rapport and the concept of working alliance, for instance with regard to an emotional bond.…”

Remembering remotely: would video-mediation impair witnesses' memory reports?

“…Of course, there are substantive limitations to these kinds of subjective-rating data, not least because different people will no doubt have very different interpretations of complex concepts such as 'rapport' (Vanderhallen, Vervaeke, & Holmberg, 2011), and because they might not all have believed that these ratings would be anonymous. Nonetheless, participants' open-ended comments also add to the overall picture in this regard.…”

Establishing and Maintaining Rapport in Investigative Interviews of Traumatized Victims: A Qualitative Study

“…They describe the concept as consisting of three essential, interrelating components: 1) mutual attentiveness (shared interest and degree of involvement in the interaction), 2) positivity (mutual friendliness and care in the relationship with the other), and 3) coordination (the balance, harmony or smoothness of the interaction). In their conceptual analysis of the concept, Vanderhallen, Vervaeke, and Holmberg (2011) suggest that rapport consists of a relationship that provides warmth, is harmonious and natural, offers trust, and stimulates co-operation. In order to build rapport, according to the training in Norway, the interviewer should work towards establishing a context that facilitates communication.…”

“…"… a humanitarian interviewing style promotes rapport building through its underlying notions of empathy and a personalizing approach, …" Such an approach has been found to have a positive impact on the development of a working alliance with interviewees (Vanderhallen et al, 2011), the amount of information generated and the interviewees' personal well-being (Holmberg & Madsen, 2014;Madsen & Holmberg, 2015).…”