prolonged interrogation
Noun: A method of psychological pressure or torture involving the sustained and lengthy questioning of a person, often for many hours, with the intent to exhaust, disorient, or extract information.
This term is used to describe a specific, intense, and often coercive process of questioning. It implies a duration that is excessively long and psychologically taxing. - The suspect was subjected to a prolonged interrogation by the authorities. - Human rights organizations condemned the use of prolonged interrogation as a form of abuse.
- As a formal or legal term: It is often found in legal, human rights, and psychological contexts to describe a prohibited or unethical practice.
- The court ruled that the confession was inadmissible because it was obtained during a prolonged interrogation.
- Interrogation (n): The general act of questioning someone, especially formally and intensively.
- Debriefing (n): Questioning to obtain information, typically after a mission or event, usually without the negative connotation of coercion.
- Grilling (n, informal): Intensive questioning.
- Intensive questioning
- Sustained questioning
- Marathon interrogation
- To be under interrogation: To be in the process of being questioned.
- He was under interrogation for the entire night.
- To conduct an interrogation: To carry out the questioning.
- The agent was trained to conduct an interrogation.
The term "prolonged interrogation" specifically combines the idea of extended time ("prolonged") with systematic, often hostile, questioning ("interrogation"). Its primary association is with psychological stress and potential torture, distinguishing it from simple, lengthy interviews. The compound nature of the term is essential to its specific meaning.
- a form of psychological torture inflicted by questioning the victim for hours