I found a really interesting article about this question.
The writer explains that when an investigator questions a guilty suspect about the crime he committed, it can be safely assumed that the suspect has already employed one or more defense mechanisms to help him cope with his crime. The innocent suspect, on the other hand, has no need to reduce guilt or shame associated with the crime under investigation.
That's why when defense mechanisms are identified during an interview, they should be associated with a guilty suspect.
He shares some examples of responses to interview questions.
The following example illustrates the defense mechanism indentification:
Q: Have you ever just thought about forcing a woman to have sex with you?
A: Well, sure. Every guy thinks about that but that doesn't mean I'd follow through with it.
Here's one more that illustrates the defense mechanism rationalization:
Q: Did you start that fire?
A: No, but I was smoking in the area where the fire started and I have this strange feeling that maybe my cigarette may have accidentally started the fire.
The other examples are about the defense mechanisms minimization, projection and displacement.
I found a really interesting article about this question.
The writer explains that when an investigator questions a guilty suspect about the crime he committed, it can be safely assumed that the suspect has already employed one or more defense mechanisms to help him cope with his crime. The innocent suspect, on the other hand, has no need to reduce guilt or shame associated with the crime under investigation.
That's why when defense mechanisms are identified during an interview, they should be associated with a guilty suspect.
He shares some examples of responses to interview questions.
The following example illustrates the defense mechanism indentification:
Q: Have you ever just thought about forcing a woman to have sex with you?
A: Well, sure. Every guy thinks about that but that doesn't mean I'd follow through with it.
Here's one more that illustrates the defense mechanism rationalization:
Q: Did you start that fire?
A: No, but I was smoking in the area where the fire started and I have this strange feeling that maybe my cigarette may have accidentally started the fire.
The other examples are about the defense mechanisms minimization, projection and displacement.
https://reid.com/resources/investigator-tips/the-role-of-defense-mechanisms-in-detecting-deception