Good cop/bad cop
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Good cop/bad cop, known in British military circles as Mutt and Jeff (from an American newspaper comic strip of that name) and also called joint questioning and friend and foe[1], is a psychological tactic used for interrogation.
'Good cop/bad cop' tactics involves a team of two interrogators who take apparently opposing approaches to the subject. The interrogators may interview the subject alternately or may confront the subject at the same time.
The 'bad cop' takes an aggressive, negative stance towards the subject, making blatant accusations, derogatory comments, threats, and in general creating antipathy between the subject and himself. This sets the stage for the 'good cop' to act sympathetically: appearing supportive, understanding, in general showing sympathy for the subject. The good cop will also defend the subject from the bad cop. The subject may feel he can cooperate with the good cop out of trust and/or fear of the bad cop. He may then seek protection by and trust the good cop and tell him the needed information.
It is not uncommon for a subject to testify falsely against other subjects under the good-cop/bad-cop duress, only to recant the testimony at a later point when the psychological stress is no longer present.
The technique is easily recognised by those familiar with it, but it remains useful against subjects who are young, frightened, or naïve. Experienced interrogators assess the subject's level of intelligence and experience with the technique prior to its application.
It can border on torture as practiced by thousands of police and prosecution authorities who decide for themselves what the bounds of legality, abuse, torture, sensitivity and sensibility are.
It is a common dramatic technique in American cinema, where the bad cop often goes beyond legal behavior.
