Dire consequences

Techniques > Interrogation > Dire consequences

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Point out the consequences of non-collaboration. Exaggerate these. Pump up the fear of what might happen.

Show them that any route other than telling you what you want will lead to dire consequences for the person.

Play on their imagination. Sow seeds and water them.

Example

If you don't tell me now it will look very bad in court. The judge will throw the book at you for concealment, which carries at least an extra two years in prison.

Tell me now or I'll have to tell your father about this when he comes home.

We can do this the easy way or we can do it the hard way. Steven over there is an expert in the management of pain.

Discussion

Beyond being a simple threat, this approach uses amplification to make relatively small things seem much worse.

This may even include telling lies and making threats that cannot be carried out. Once the person has told you what you want, they cannot take it back.