The purpose of this chapter is to review the available research on Human Intelligence (HUMINT) interrogations. The chapter describes a paradigm shift in the approach to HUMINT interrogations, and discusses the conceptual, methodological and practical implications of this paradigm shift. First, the defining characteristics of HUMINT interrogations are described, followed by a discussion of how the challenges of HUMINT interrogations may be similar as well as different compared to interrogations in criminal settings. Second, in order to provide a context for the claim of a paradigm shift, the chapter provides a historical overview of practice and research on HUMINT interrogation. Third, the current state of knowledge about the psychology of HUMINT interrogations is reviewed, with a particular focus on methods that have been shown to be effective. Finally, several challenges for future research in this domain are outlined, followed by a discussion of how research on HUMINT may proceed to fill the gap in current knowledge.
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/christian_meissner/71/