Camera perspective and trivial details interact to influence jurors' evaluations of a retracted confession

Prior research demonstrates that observers rate videotaped confessions as more voluntary if the camera focuses on the suspect rather than on the interrogator or on both individuals. The present study extends this finding by examining whether the amount of detail within the content of a confession interacts with camera perspective to influence jurors' assessments. Mock jurors viewed a videotaped confession embedded within a murder trial that contained either a high or low amount of detail about the crime. The confession was recorded with the camera focused either on the defendant, on the defendant and detective equally, or on the detective. As predicted, the amount of detail had no effect when the camera focused either on the detective or on both individuals equally. However, in the defendant-focused condition, a high rather than low detail confession led jurors to conclude that the defendant had a better memory for the crime, to rate his confession as more authentic and incriminating, and to view him as more likely guilty.