A false accusation is a claim or allegation of wrongdoing that is untrue and/or otherwise unsupported by facts.[1] False accusations are also known as groundless accusations or unfounded accusations or false allegations or false claims. They can occur in any of the following contexts:
When there is insufficient supporting evidence to determine whether it is true or false, an accusation is described as "unsubstantiated" or "unfounded". Accusations that are determined to be false based on corroborating evidence can be divided into three categories:[2]
A completely false allegation, in that the alleged events did not occur.
An allegation that describes events that did occur, but were perpetrated by an individual who is not accused, and in which the accused person is innocent.
An allegation that is false, in that it mixes descriptions of events that actually happened with other events that did not occur.
A false allegation can occur as the result of intentional lying on the part of the accuser;[3][4] or unintentionally, due to a confabulation, either arising spontaneously due to mental illness[3] or resulting from deliberate or accidental suggestive questioning, or faulty interviewing techniques.[5] In 1997, researchers Poole and Lindsay suggested that separate labels should be applied to the two concepts, proposing that the term "false allegations" be used specifically when the accuser is aware that they are lying, and "false suspicions" for the wider range of false accusations in which suggestive questioning may have been involved.[6]
When a person is suspected of a wrongdoing for which they are in fact responsible, "false accusation may be used to divert attention from one's own guilt".[4] False accusation may also arise in part from the conduct of the accused, particularly where the accused engages in behaviors consistent with having committed the suspected wrongdoing, either unconsciously or for purposes of appearing guilty.[4]
Additionally, once a false accusation has been made – particularly an emotionally laden one – normal human emotional responses to being falsely accused (such as fear, anger, or denial of the accusation) may be misinterpreted as evidence of guilt.[citation needed]
Statistics
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2022)
In Japan in 2020, 33 people (21 males and 12 females) were arrested for false accusation.[7]
A false accusation of rape is the intentional reporting of a rape where no rape has occurred. It is difficult to assess the prevalence of false accusations because they are often conflated with non-prosecuted cases under the designation "unfounded".[8][9] However, in the United States, the FBIUniform Crime Report in 1996 and the United States Department of Justice in 1997 stated 8% of rape accusations in the United States were regarded as unfounded or false.[10][11][12] Studies in other countries have reported their own rates at anywhere from 1.5% (Denmark) to 10% (Canada).[12]: 140–142 Due to varying definitions of a "false accusation", the true percentage remains unknown.[11]
A false allegation of child sexual abuse is an accusation that a person committed one or more acts of child sexual abuse when in reality there was no perpetration of abuse by the accused person as alleged. Such accusations can be brought by the victim, or by another person on the alleged victim's behalf. Studies of child abuse allegations suggest that the overall rate of false accusation is under 10%, as approximated based on multiple studies.[2][13][14][15] Of the allegations determined to be false, only a small portion originated with the child, the studies showed; most false allegations originated with an adult bringing the accusations on behalf of a child, and of those, a large majority occurred in the context of divorce and child-custody battles.[2][16]
According to a 2003 survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute, the most common bullying tactics included false attribution of "errors" to an employee, glaring or other hostile body language, dismissive comments, the "silent treatment", and/or making up arbitrary "rules" to ensure that a victim breaks them.[17]
The case has been made that diagnoses of Münchausen syndrome by proxy, that is harming someone else in order to gain attention for oneself, are often false or highly questionable.[19]
In 1999, Pathe, Mullen, and Purcell wrote that popular interest in stalking was promoting false claims.[20] In 2004, Sheridan and Blaauw said that they estimated that 11.5% of claims in a sample of 357 reported claims of stalking were false.[21]
Murder
In the mid 2000, LAPD arrested a young man Juan Catalan after a little girl was shot dead. Catalan was sentenced to death after a witness stated that he looked like the killer. Catalan turned out to be innocent; it was a television show (Curb Your Enthusiasm) which showed him seated at a baseball game, thus exonerating him. A documentary was later produced about the event. [22][23]
^"Accusation Law and Legal Definition". uslegal.com. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
^ abcNey, T (1995). True and False Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse: Assessment and Case Management. Psychology Press. pp. 23–33. ISBN0-87630-758-6.
^ abMikkelsen EJ, Gutheil TG, Emens M (October 1992). "False sexual-abuse allegations by children and adolescents: contextual factors and clinical subtypes". Am J Psychother. 46 (4): 556–70. doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1992.46.4.556. PMID 1443285.
^ abcBryant, Clifton D. (1990). Deviant Behavior: Readings in the Sociology of Norm Violation. New York: Hemisphere. p. 190. ISBN0-89116-696-3.
^Maggie Bruck; Ceci, Stephen J (1995). Jeopardy in the Courtroom. Amer Psychological Assn. ISBN1-55798-282-1.
^Schetky, DH; Green AH (1988). Child Sexual Abuse: A Handbook for Health Care and Legal Professionals. Psychology Press. pp. 105. ISBN0-87630-495-1.
^Bolen, RM (2001). Child Sexual Abuse: Its Scope and Our Failure. Springer. pp. 109. ISBN0-306-46576-0.
^Robin, M (1991). Assessing Child Maltreatment Reports: The Problem of False Allegations. Haworth Press. pp. 21–24. ISBN0-86656-931-6.
^. Archived from the original on 2017-10-15. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
^Shallcross, Linda; Ramsay, Sheryl; Barker, Michelle (2008). "Workplace mobbing: Expulsion, exclusion, and transformation". In Wilson, M. (ed.). Managing in the Pacific Century. Proceedings of the 22nd Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management Annual Conference. Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management, Australia. pp. 1–22.
^"False Accusations of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. PHD and more presented by Dr. Helen Hayward-Brown". www.pnc.com.au. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
^Pathe, M.; Mullen, P. E.; Purcell, R. (1999). "Stalking: false claims of victimization". British Journal of Psychiatry. 174 (2): 170–172. doi:10.1192/bjp.174.2.170. PMID 10211173. S2CID 13850054.
^Sheridan, L. P.; Blaauw, E. (2004). "Characteristics of False Stalking Reports". Criminal Justice and Behavior. 31 (1): 55–72. doi:10.1177/0093854803259235. S2CID 11868229.
^"How 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Saved an Innocent Man from Death Row". 29 September 2017.
^"A notorious LAPD settlement, revisited: HBO's role in clearing an L.A. Man's name". Los Angeles Times. 7 April 2022.
August 21, 2023
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A false accusation is a claim or allegation of wrongdoing that is untrue and or otherwise unsupported by facts 1 False accusations are also known as groundless accusations or unfounded accusations or false allegations or false claims They can occur in any of the following contexts Informally in everyday life Quasi judicially JudiciallyContents 1 Types 2 Statistics 3 Rape 4 Child abuse 5 Workplace bullying 6 Workplace mobbing 7 Munchausen syndrome by proxy 8 Stalking 9 Murder 10 See also 11 ReferencesTypes EditWhen there is insufficient supporting evidence to determine whether it is true or false an accusation is described as unsubstantiated or unfounded Accusations that are determined to be false based on corroborating evidence can be divided into three categories 2 A completely false allegation in that the alleged events did not occur An allegation that describes events that did occur but were perpetrated by an individual who is not accused and in which the accused person is innocent An allegation that is false in that it mixes descriptions of events that actually happened with other events that did not occur A false allegation can occur as the result of intentional lying on the part of the accuser 3 4 or unintentionally due to a confabulation either arising spontaneously due to mental illness 3 or resulting from deliberate or accidental suggestive questioning or faulty interviewing techniques 5 In 1997 researchers Poole and Lindsay suggested that separate labels should be applied to the two concepts proposing that the term false allegations be used specifically when the accuser is aware that they are lying and false suspicions for the wider range of false accusations in which suggestive questioning may have been involved 6 When a person is suspected of a wrongdoing for which they are in fact responsible false accusation may be used to divert attention from one s own guilt 4 False accusation may also arise in part from the conduct of the accused particularly where the accused engages in behaviors consistent with having committed the suspected wrongdoing either unconsciously or for purposes of appearing guilty 4 Additionally once a false accusation has been made particularly an emotionally laden one normal human emotional responses to being falsely accused such as fear anger or denial of the accusation may be misinterpreted as evidence of guilt citation needed Statistics EditThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it October 2022 In Japan in 2020 33 people 21 males and 12 females were arrested for false accusation 7 Rape EditMain article False accusation of rape A false accusation of rape is the intentional reporting of a rape where no rape has occurred It is difficult to assess the prevalence of false accusations because they are often conflated with non prosecuted cases under the designation unfounded 8 9 However in the United States the FBI Uniform Crime Report in 1996 and the United States Department of Justice in 1997 stated 8 of rape accusations in the United States were regarded as unfounded or false 10 11 12 Studies in other countries have reported their own rates at anywhere from 1 5 Denmark to 10 Canada 12 140 142 Due to varying definitions of a false accusation the true percentage remains unknown 11 Child abuse EditMain article False accusations of child sexual abuse A false allegation of child sexual abuse is an accusation that a person committed one or more acts of child sexual abuse when in reality there was no perpetration of abuse by the accused person as alleged Such accusations can be brought by the victim or by another person on the alleged victim s behalf Studies of child abuse allegations suggest that the overall rate of false accusation is under 10 as approximated based on multiple studies 2 13 14 15 Of the allegations determined to be false only a small portion originated with the child the studies showed most false allegations originated with an adult bringing the accusations on behalf of a child and of those a large majority occurred in the context of divorce and child custody battles 2 16 Workplace bullying EditMain article Workplace bullying According to a 2003 survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute the most common bullying tactics included false attribution of errors to an employee glaring or other hostile body language dismissive comments the silent treatment and or making up arbitrary rules to ensure that a victim breaks them 17 Workplace mobbing EditMain article Workplace mobbing Workplace mobbing can be considered as a virus or a cancer that spreads throughout the workplace via gossip rumour and unfounded accusations 18 Munchausen syndrome by proxy EditMain article Munchausen syndrome by proxy The case has been made that diagnoses of Munchausen syndrome by proxy that is harming someone else in order to gain attention for oneself are often false or highly questionable 19 Stalking EditMain article False claims of stalking gang stalking and delusions of persecution In 1999 Pathe Mullen and Purcell wrote that popular interest in stalking was promoting false claims 20 In 2004 Sheridan and Blaauw said that they estimated that 11 5 of claims in a sample of 357 reported claims of stalking were false 21 Murder EditIn the mid 2000 LAPD arrested a young man Juan Catalan after a little girl was shot dead Catalan was sentenced to death after a witness stated that he looked like the killer Catalan turned out to be innocent it was a television show Curb Your Enthusiasm which showed him seated at a baseball game thus exonerating him A documentary was later produced about the event 22 23 See also EditAccusation Allegation Black propaganda Blame Criminal accusation Cancel culture Defamation False alarm False arrest False Claims Act False conviction False evidence False imprisonment False statement Legal abuse Lie Paranoia Presumption of guilt Sham peer review Smear campaign Victim blamingReferences Edit Accusation Law and Legal Definition uslegal com Retrieved April 18 2019 a b c Ney T 1995 True and False Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse Assessment and Case Management Psychology Press pp 23 33 ISBN 0 87630 758 6 a b Mikkelsen EJ Gutheil TG Emens M October 1992 False sexual abuse allegations by children and adolescents contextual factors and clinical subtypes Am J Psychother 46 4 556 70 doi 10 1176 appi psychotherapy 1992 46 4 556 PMID 1443285 a b c Bryant Clifton D 1990 Deviant Behavior Readings in the Sociology of Norm Violation New York Hemisphere p 190 ISBN 0 89116 696 3 Maggie Bruck Ceci Stephen J 1995 Jeopardy in the Courtroom Amer Psychological Assn ISBN 1 55798 282 1 Irving B Weiner Donald K Freedheim 2003 Handbook of Psychology John Wiley and Sons pp 438 ISBN 0 471 17669 9 犯罪統計書 令和2年の犯罪 PDF in Japanese 警察庁 September 2021 Retrieved 2022 10 14 Hazelwood Robert R Burgess Ann Wolbert eds 2008 Practical Aspects of Rape Investigation CRC Press ISBN 9781420065053 Gross Bruce Spring 2009 False Rape Allegations An Assault On Justice The Forensic Examiner a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty url help Section II Crime Index Offenses Reported PDF Crime in the United States 1996 Uniform Crime Statistics FBI 1997 a b Turvey Brent E 2013 Forensic Victimology Examining Violent Crime Victims in Investigative and Legal Contexts Academic Press pp 276 277 ISBN 978 0 12 408084 3 a b Rumney Philip N S 2006 False Allegations of Rape Cambridge Law Journal 65 1 128 158 doi 10 1017 S0008197306007069 S2CID 29279653 Hobbs CJ Hanks HGI Wynne JM 1999 Child Abuse and Neglect A Clinician s Handbook Elsevier Health Sciences pp 197 ISBN 0 443 05896 2 Schetky DH Green AH 1988 Child Sexual Abuse A Handbook for Health Care and Legal Professionals Psychology Press pp 105 ISBN 0 87630 495 1 Bolen RM 2001 Child Sexual Abuse Its Scope and Our Failure Springer pp 109 ISBN 0 306 46576 0 Robin M 1991 Assessing Child Maltreatment Reports The Problem of False Allegations Haworth Press pp 21 24 ISBN 0 86656 931 6 Top 25 workplace bullying tactics Archived from the original on 2017 10 15 Retrieved 24 August 2017 Shallcross Linda Ramsay Sheryl Barker Michelle 2008 Workplace mobbing Expulsion exclusion and transformation In Wilson M ed Managing in the Pacific Century Proceedings of the 22nd Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management Annual Conference Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management Australia pp 1 22 False Accusations of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy PHD and more presented by Dr Helen Hayward Brown www pnc com au Retrieved 24 August 2017 Pathe M Mullen P E Purcell R 1999 Stalking false claims of victimization British Journal of Psychiatry 174 2 170 172 doi 10 1192 bjp 174 2 170 PMID 10211173 S2CID 13850054 Sheridan L P Blaauw E 2004 Characteristics of False Stalking Reports Criminal Justice and Behavior 31 1 55 72 doi 10 1177 0093854803259235 S2CID 11868229 How Curb Your Enthusiasm Saved an Innocent Man from Death Row 29 September 2017 A notorious LAPD settlement revisited HBO s role in clearing an L A Man s name Los Angeles Times 7 April 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title False accusation amp oldid 1166543655, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
