INTERVIEWS
A psychology-informed mindset
As an investigator, the way you mentally approach an investigative interview is quite important. Your time and effort into planning and preparation should also include planning your mindset and attitude for the interview.
One consideration for your mindset should include the psychology-informed mindset. "What does that mean?" you ask. To be psychology-informed means that you take into account the emotional and psychological needs of the individual you are interviewing. Let’s look at topics to be considered when approaching with a psychology-informed mindset.
To be psychology-informed you must be able to exercise a great deal of emotional intelligence. While having a high EQ is an important quality, there are some specific elements you must consider.
Dr. Jack Jones recently shared with me his five elements that make up the psychology-informed mindset of an interviewer. They include: Empathetic engagement, Psychological safety, Awareness of trauma impact, Cognitive and cultural competence, and Adaptive communication strategies.
Think of it like this, if you’ve ever been through some sort of therapy, how did that therapist create a setting that encouraged open, non-judgemental sharing? They did it with a psychology-informed mindset. During your next interview ask yourself if you’ve done enough to encourage openness and a free exchange of information; ask yourself if you’ve been able to address the five elements of being psychology-informed.
by Chris Norris, CFI
Wicklander-Zulawski
