
“Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.”
— Mother Teresa
The last two weeks we examined the use of words in the interview room, both by the interviewer and interviewee. We looked at the importance of active listening to that person sitting across from us. Part of that need to “listen” is our responsibility to fully understand ourselves and the person we are talking to.
It’s Christmas week, and this time of the year is often noted for being a pandemic time of loneliness. Are we cognizant of that around us? Do we have time to pay attention? Looking at this topic of loneliness applies to the interview room as well. Are we assessing our interviewee? Are we honestly assessing ourselves?
Loneliness, a pervasive yet often overlooked emotional state, has significant psychological and behavioral implications. In the realm of investigative interviewing, loneliness can profoundly affect both interviewees and interviewers, influencing the dynamics, accuracy, and outcomes of the process. Understanding these effects is crucial for professionals who seek to navigate the complex human behavior involved in investigations and interviewing.
Understanding Loneliness in Context
Loneliness is more than being alone; it is a subjective experience of social disconnection. It can arise from prolonged isolation, loss of significant loved ones, strained relationships, or feelings of inadequacy in social interactions. Studies have shown that loneliness impacts cognitive functioning, decision-making, and emotional regulation, all of which are critical factors in an interview setting. Individuals experiencing loneliness often exhibit heightened anxiety, mistrust, and sensitivity to perceived social threats, which can complicate the investigative process.
The Impact on Interviewees
- Cognitive Impairment: Loneliness can impair memory and attention, making it difficult for interviewees to recall events accurately. This cognitive fog can lead to fragmented or inconsistent testimonies, even when the interviewee is not attempting to deceive. For investigators, recognizing this impairment is vital to ensure they do not misinterpret these inconsistencies as lying or intentional obfuscation.
- Heightened Emotional Responses: Loneliness often intensifies emotions such as fear, sadness, or defensiveness. Interviewees may react more emotionally to questions, perceiving them as confrontational or judgmental. This can hinder rapport-building, a major cornerstone of effective interviewing.
- Increased Susceptibility to Suggestion: Lonely individuals may display a stronger desire to please others or gain social acceptance. In an interview setting, this can lead to compliance or suggestibility, increasing the risk of false confessions or unreliable statements. This would require the construct and asking of good questions.
The Impact on Interviewers
- Bias and Misinterpretation: Lonely interviewers may project their own feelings onto interviewees, misinterpreting responses or attributing motives that align with their emotional state. This bias can skew the interpretation of evidence or statements.
- Reduced Empathy and Patience: Chronic loneliness can diminish an individual’s capacity for empathy. For interviewers, this may manifest as impatience or a lack of understanding, both of which can erode trust and rapport with interviewees.
- Diminished Professional Judgment: Loneliness has been linked to reduced problem-solving abilities and increased stress, which can impair an interviewer’s ability to make sound decisions during critical moments in the investigation and negatively affect the direction and progress of the interview.
“The eternal quest of the individual human being is to shatter his loneliness.”
— Norman Cousins
Strategies to Mitigate the Effects of Loneliness
- Training and Awareness: Providing interviewers with training to recognize the signs of loneliness in themselves and others can help mitigate its negative effects. This includes understanding the psychological impact of loneliness and adopting strategies to maintain objectivity and empathy. We must know ourselves.
- Building Rapport: Establishing trust with interviewees is essential. Techniques such as active listening, non-confrontational questioning, and creating a supportive environment can help counteract the emotional barriers caused by loneliness. Empathy in this regard can be invaluable.
- Promoting Mental Health: Encouraging both interviewers and interviewees to prioritize mental health can reduce the prevalence and impact of loneliness. For interviewers, this might involve regular debriefings, access to counseling or an EAP program, and fostering a supportive work culture.
- Adaptation of Techniques: For interviewees showing signs of loneliness, interviewers may need to adapt their approach. This could include allowing more time for responses, rephrasing questions to reduce perceived pressure, or using techniques that minimize suggestibility. We must be flexible in the interview room.
Loneliness is a silent yet powerful force that can influence the effectiveness of investigative interviews. By understanding its impact on cognitive and emotional functioning, interviewers can better navigate the challenges it presents. Through training, empathy, and mental health support, professionals can mitigate the negative effects of loneliness, ensuring a more accurate and humane investigative process. Addressing loneliness is not just a matter of improving outcomes—it is a step toward acknowledging and respecting the intricate human experiences that shape every interaction.
Recognize that these blogs are focused on improving interviewing, investigations, and auditing, but in most cases the topics have significant applicability to our lives in general. Maybe it is even more useful there, when we have the opportunity to affect the world around us; co-workers, friends, family, loved ones. Let’s make a difference everywhere we go. Remember, credibility, consistency, integrity in our lives.
Anderson Investigative Associates is positioned to custom-tailor training to your specific needs. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the issue of loneliness and its effect on interviewees or interviewers, or any training need, please reach out. Additional issues pertaining to interviewing, auditing, and investigations can be found in other blogs and videos that I have produced and are contained in most blocks of instruction that our company presents.
If you have additional questions, comments, or have an interview topic you would like me to address, give me a shout. In the meantime, be well, stay safe out there, and invest in the world around you to look for those signs of unaddressed loneliness, and make a difference. This work will improve your interviewing and communication skills, at work and throughout your life.
Mark A. Anderson
Director of Training and Development
Anderson Investigative Associates, llc
114 Loucks Avenue
Scottdale, PA 15683
manderson@andersoninvestigative.com
tel:912-571-6686