Sm. Kassin et Kl. Kiechel, THE SOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGY OF FALSE CONFESSIONS - COMPLIANCE, INTERNALIZATION, AND CONFABULATION, Psychological science, 7(3), 1996, pp. 125-128
An experiment demonstrated that false incriminating evidence can lead
people to accept guilt for a clime they did riot commit. Subjects in a
fast- or slow-paced reaction time task were accused of damaging a com
puter by pressing the wrong key. All were truly innocent and initially
denied the charge. A confederate then said she saw the subject hit th
e key or did not see the subject hit the key. Compared with subjects i
n the slow-pace/no-witness group, those in the fast-pace/witness group
were more likely to sign a confession, internalize guilt for the even
t, and confabulate details in memory consistent with that belief. Both
legal and conceptual implications are discussed.