Literature has often understood the problematic nature of confession better than the law, as Brooks demonstrates in perceptive readings of legal cases set against works by Roussean, Dostoevsky, Joyce, and Camus, among others."--BOOK JACKET.

How did the United States, a nation known for protecting the “right to remain silent” become notorious for condoning and using controversial tactics like water boarding and extraordinary rendition to extract information? What forces determine the laws that define acceptable interrogation techniques and how do they shift so quickly from one extreme to another? In Confessions of Guilt, esteemed scholars George C. Thomas III and Richard A. Leo tell the story of how, over the centuries, the law of interrogation has moved from indifference about extreme force to concern over the slightest pressure, and back again. The history of interrogation in the Anglo-American world, they reveal, has been a swinging pendulum rather than a gradual continuum of violence. Exploring a realist explanation of this pattern, Thomas and Leo demonstrate that the law of interrogation and the process of its enforcement are both inherently unstable and highly dependent on the perceived levels of threat felt by a society. Laws react to fear, they argue, and none more so than those that govern the treatment of suspected criminals. From England of the late eighteenth century to America at the dawn of the twenty-first, Confessions of Guilt traces the disturbing yet fascinating history of interrogation practices, new and old, and the laws that govern them. Thomas and Leo expertly explain the social dynamics that underpin the continual transformation of interrogation law and practice and look critically forward to what their future might hold.

The extreme interrogation tactics permitted after the 9/11 attacks illustrate that the level of fear in society can influence the law of interrogation. In light of controversial water boarding policies and extraterritorial detention centers, what is the basis for interrogation law in the United States? What is the historical precedent for giving potential criminals the right to "remain silent" or confess to a crime? In Confessions of Guilt, esteemed scholars of law and criminal procedure George Thomas and Richard Leo tell the story of how, over the centuries, the law of interrogation moved from indifference about extreme pressure to concern over the slightest pressure, and back again. Demonstrating that the law of interrogation is inherently unstable and highly dependent on the perceived levels of threat felt by a society, the authors shed light on the nuanced and fascinating history of interrogation practices, both new and old.

In Troubling Confessions, Peter Brooks juxtaposes law and literature to explore the kinds of truth we associate with confessions, and why we both rely on them and regard them with suspicion. For centuries the law has considered confession to be "the queen of proofs," but it has also seen a need to regulate confessions and the circumstances under which they are made, as evidenced in the continuing debate over the Miranda decision. Western culture has made confessional speech a prime measure of authenticity, seeing it as an expression of selfhood that bears witness to personal truth. Yet the urge to confess may be motivated by inextricable layers of shame, guilt, self-loathing, and the desire to propitiate figures of authority. Literature has often understood the problematic nature of confession better than the law, as Brooks demonstrates in perceptive readings of legal cases set against works by Roussean, Dostoevsky, Joyce, and Camus, among others

Provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the development of the science behind the psychology of false confessions Four decades ago, little was known or understood about false confessions and the reasons behind them. So much has changed since then due in part to the diligent work done by Gisli H. Gudjonsson. This eye-opening book by the Icelandic/British clinical forensic psychologist, who in the mid 1970s had worked as detective in Reykjavik, offers a complete and current analysis of how the study of the psychology of false confessions came about, including the relevant theories and empirical/experimental evidence base. It also provides a reflective review of the gradual development of the science and how it can be applied to real life cases. Based on Gudjonsson’s personal account of the biggest murder investigations in Iceland’s history, as well as other landmark cases, The Psychology of False Confessions: Forty Years of Science and Practice takes readers inside the minds of those who sit on both sides of the interrogation table to examine why confessions to crimes occur even when the confessor is innocent. Presented in three parts, the book covers how the science of studying false confessions emerged and grew to become a regular field of practice. It then goes deep into the investigation of the mid-1970s assumed murders of two men in Iceland and the people held responsible for them. It finishes with an in-depth psychological analysis of the confessions of the six people convicted. Written by an expert extensively involved in the development of the science and its application to real life cases Covers the most sensational murder cases in Iceland’s history Deep analysis of the ‘Reykjavik Confessions’ adds crucial evidence to understanding how and why coerced-internalized false confessions occur, and their detrimental and lasting effects on memory The Psychology of False Confessions: Forty Years of Science and Practice is an important source book for students, academics, criminologists, and clinical, forensic, and social psychologists and psychiatrists.

From the creator of The Honest Toddler comes a fiction debut “perfect for readers looking for a funny, realistic look at motherhood” (Booklist, starred review). There are good moms and bad moms . . . and then there are hot-mess moms. Confessions of a Domestic Failure introduces readers to Ashley Keller, career girl turned stay-at-home mom who’s trying to navigate the world of Pinterest-perfect mommies. When Ashley gets the chance to enroll in a mommy-blog maven’s Motherhood Better boot camp, she jumps at the chance to become the perfect mom she’s always wanted to be. But the pursuit of perfection has a way of going perfectly wrong. With her razor-sharp wit, Bunmi Laditan creates an unforgettable and hilariously relatable character while lambasting the social pressures every new mother faces. “Freaking hilarious. This is the novel moms have been waiting for.” —Jenny Lawson, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened

Delve into the realm of secrets and revelations with Henri René Albert Guy De Maupassant's intriguing narrative in the confessing story, "The Confession." Immerse yourself in a tale where truth unfolds in unexpected ways, creating a narrative that will leave you both intrigued and contemplative. As Maupassant's intriguing narrative unfolds, follow the characters through the confessions and revelations, unraveling the complexities of truth and the consequences of baring one's soul. The evocative prose and narrative depth will transport you to a world where the boundaries between confession and concealment are explored, and the consequences of honesty are felt with intensity.But here's the question that will linger in the echoes of revelation: What if the story of confession is not just a revealing tale but a mirror reflecting the intricacies of human truth and the complexities of confronting one's own secrets? Explore the narrative details of this thought-provoking story, where each chapter unveils the confessions and reflections surrounding the characters. The blend of evocative prose and narrative insights creates a reading experience that will leave you captivated while contemplating the layers of truth in the human experience. Are you prepared to confront the revelations within "The Confession" and reflect on the intriguing complexities of confessing one's truth?Indulge in short, thought-provoking paragraphs that guide you through the revealing landscapes of confession. The evocative prose and narrative reflections will make you feel like a participant in the characters' confessional journey, experiencing the nuanced emotions and consequences of truth-telling. Here's your chance to not just read but to experience the intrigue within "The Confession." This is more than a story; it's a journey through the complexities of truth. Will you dare to confront the revealing layers of confession in this intriguing narrative?Seize the opportunity to own a piece of thought-provoking literature. Purchase "The Confession" now, and let the intriguing narrative and thematic depth within its pages resonate in your contemplative thoughts.

Excerpt from Involuntary Confessions: A Monograph This conflict between the true and false arises in all cases where guilt is attempted to be screened by human contrivance. The mind involuntarily becomes its own prosecutor. It drops at each point evidence to prove its guilt. Each statement that it makes - each subterfuge to which it resorts each pretext it suggests - is a witness that it prepares and qualifies for admis sion on trial. In this, and in the universality of the psychological truth that guilt cannot keep its counsel, we may find an attribute of divine justice by which crime is made involuntarily its own avenger. Man cannot conceal the topic of a great crime, either anticipated or committed. It sometimes leaps out of him convulsively in dreams; sometimes a false cunning leads him to talk about it to know what suspicions may be afloat; sometimes that sort of madness which impels people to dash themselves from a high tower, forces him to the disclosure. Even his silence tells against him; and when it does not, the tremor of the body supplies the place of the tremor of the mind. Nor can he keep peace with his associates. There is a disruptive power in a consciousness of common guilt, which produces a hatred so demonstrative, that if it does not supply the proof, it attracts the suspicion of a great wrong having been done. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.