good cop/bad cop
Friendly-hostile questioning pair
Good cop/bad cop is an interrogation technique where two questioners alternate between friendly and hostile approaches, the contrast designed to make the subject more cooperative with the sympathetic one.
The phrase extends to any situation where partners strategically play opposing roles: They pulled the good cop/bad cop routine on the car salesman.
Sometimes describes uncoordinated personality differences rather than deliberate strategy.
- inquiryRequest for information
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- role-playingActing out characters
cop show · persuasion · rapport · empathy · false friend · power dynamics · coercion · trust-building · authority figures · interviewing · manipulation · mind games · carrot and stick · tough love · pressure tactics · grilling · probing · inquisition
good cop/bad copstraight dealing
Honest, transparent transactions
straight talk · cards on the table · unified front · what-you-see-is-what-you-get