Which of the following is NOT a recommended strategy when conducting admission-seeking interviews?

In an admission-seeking interview, the objective is to obtain a confession. A recommended and effective strategy is to build rapport and show empathy. The interviewer should rationalize the subject's behavior by offering morally acceptable reasons for the misconduct, which helps the person save face and makes it easier to confess. Minimizing empathy and emphasizing wrongdoing creates a hostile environment, making the subject defensive and highly unlikely to cooperate or admit guilt. Therefore, this approach is contrary to best practices.

A. Admission-seeking interviews should be unhurried to allow the interviewer to properly develop themes and build rapport with the subject.
B. Accusations must be made in private to avoid public humiliation, which can make a subject defensive, and to prevent potential claims of defamation.
D. Presenting a morally acceptable reason, or rationalization, is a core technique used to lower a subject's moral culpability and encourage a confession.

1. ACFE. (2023). Fraud Examiners Manual, International Edition. Section 3: The Interview, "Admission-Seeking Interviews." This section explicitly details the importance of rationalization and establishing a non-accusatory tone.

2. Wells, J. T. (2017). Corporate Fraud Handbook: Prevention and Detection. John Wiley & Sons. Chapter 14, "Interviewing Witnesses," discusses the psychological aspects of obtaining confessions, emphasizing empathy and rationalization.