Smash Notes
Why teens confess to crimes they didn't commit | Lindsay Malloy

TED Talks Daily

Why teens confess to crimes they didn't commit | Lindsay Malloy

Why do juveniles falsely confess to crimes? What makes them more vulnerable than adults to this shocking, counterintuitive phenomenon? Through the lens of Brendan Dassey's interrogation and confession (as featured in Netflix's "Making a Murderer" documentary), developmental psychology professor and researcher Lindsay Malloy breaks down the science…

People

Notes

  1. Which Age of Suspects Are More Likely to Give False Confessions at 5:39

    Youth are especially vulnerable to providing false confessions. Full answer

  2. Why Might a Teen Falsely Confess at 6:54

    In the US, teens are integrated just like adults. For many reasons teens falsely confess because cops can lie to teens, even to intellectually impaired teens. Full answer

  3. Why Is Questioning Teens Like Adults a Problem? at 9:27

    Hundreds of neuropsychological studies reveal that juveniles do not think like adults, behave like adults, and they are not built like adults. Full answer

  4. What Should We Educate Law Enforcement, Attorneys, Judges, and Jurors at 10:23

    They should be educated on juveniles’ developmental limitations, and how they can play out in a high stakes interrogation. Full answer

  5. How Does the US Legal System Differ From Other Countries at 13:26

    In the US, the suspect has to request to have a parent or attorney in the room. Full answer

  6. What Has the US Decided as a Country in Regard to Juveniles at 14:39

    Juveniles cannot be trusted with things like voting, buying cigarettes, attending an R-rated movie, or driving, but they can waiver their Miranda Rights--… Full answer

Related episodes

Plays from this note through the rest of the episode.

Note

Weekly highlights

One letter a week.

The notes worth hearing, with the minute they were said.