THE RESPONSE ALTERNATIVES OF SUGGESTIBLE AND NON-SUGGESTIBLE INDIVIDUALS

This paper looks at the response alternatives of suggestible and non-suggestible individuals after they have been placed under interrogative pressure. It is argued, on the basis of the theoretical model of Gudjonsson & Clark (Social Behaviour, 1,83-104,1986), that highly suggestible subjects are particularly prone to respond to negative feedback during interrogation by 'shifting' their previous answers to false alternative questions as opposed to leading questions requiring Yes/No answers. This is because their alternatives in responding to leading questions are much more limited than that of non-suggestible subjects. The hypothesis was confirmed at a high level of significance. © 1990.