Which practice is discouraged in victim interviews according to reminders?

Which practice is discouraged in victim interviews according to reminders?

• A. Asking Why
• B. Asking Open-Ended Questions
• C. Listening Fully
• D. Being Patient

Answer: (A)

In victim interviews, the aim is to gather accurate information without triggering distress or defensiveness. The practice discouraged is asking why. Why questions can feel accusatory or imply blame, pressuring the person to justify their actions or speculate about motives. That can disrupt honest recall, increase defensiveness, or lead to guarded answers, which harms the quality of the information you receive. By focusing on open-ended questions, you invite detailed responses in the survivor’s own words, which tends to yield more reliable and descriptive accounts. Listening fully shows empathy and helps you notice important details that words alone might miss, while being patient gives the survivor time to think and share at their own pace. So, the discouraged approach is asking why, while open-ended questions, active listening, and patience are the constructive practices.

In victim interviews, the aim is to gather accurate information without triggering distress or defensiveness. The practice discouraged is asking why. Why questions can feel accusatory or imply blame, pressuring the person to justify their actions or speculate about motives. That can disrupt honest recall, increase defensiveness, or lead to guarded answers, which harms the quality of the information you receive. By focusing on open-ended questions, you invite detailed responses in the survivor’s own words, which tends to yield more reliable and descriptive accounts. Listening fully shows empathy and helps you notice important details that words alone might miss, while being patient gives the survivor time to think and share at their own pace. So, the discouraged approach is asking why, while open-ended questions, active listening, and patience are the constructive practices.