Many investigators who conduct interviews for a living and researchers who study ways to uncover fraudulent statements agree that there are six areas on which to focus when identifying fraudulent statements. Whether under oath, answering questions during a job interview, providing details about an insurance claim or recounting events relating to an accident or a crime, certain characteristics of deception are universal.
This is the last in a three part series on ways to evaluate deception, and, hereinbelow, the remaining categories of “Psychophysiology” and “Content of the Statement” will be more particularly described.
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Psychophysiology
Psychophysiology is the study of how the mind and body interact, and, for or over 100 years, the link between the two has been studied and found to have relevance to uncovering deception. In recent years, British researcher and deception expert Cliff Lansley and British linguistics expert, Professor Dawn Archer crafted a system by which measurable physiological functions can identify deception statements. Not unlike how a polygraph or a lie detector machine functions, Lansley and Archer took seven different bodily functions and analyzed them against true and deceptive statements. As a result of this research, they developed a system by which highly accurate predictions could be made relative to change (or no change) in these functions vs the truthfulness of statements.
A polygraph measures pulse, respiration, heart rate, blood pressure and skin conductivity (sweating). A trained examiner then matches these measurements with statements made at the time and then formulates a judgment as to whether the statements are truthful. Although this process is considered highly reliable, findings are not accepted in most courts of law. Lansley and Archer developed a system which took the polygraph process much further by coupling measurements with statements and emotions. They also added digestion (which can produce dry lips) and pupil reaction to their predictive system. As a result, they were able to confirm whether a deviation from the truth was occurring at a higher success rate.
Content of the Statement
The sixth and final factor that experts use as a determinant of whether someone is lying is the content of someone’s statement or how they are communicating their story. Some of the telltale signs of lying and deception relating to this category include:
- Contradictory Terms – Special attention should be paid to a witness or an applicant who presents information alleging one action or fact and then at another juncture of their statement provides an opposite explanation or fact. This could be an innocent mistake, or it could be a lie. An interviewer should flush out the contridiction, listen to the explanation and observe what, if any, accompanying physiological signs occur.
- Sudden Verb Tense Changes – A witness or an applicant will probably not notice if he / she changes the verb tense when describing an activity or a fact; however, this can be another “content” signal of deception. When it takes place, pay attention to what is being said at the time, and evaluate it with the whole statement. The tense change might be an unconscious signal of an inconsistency on which to direct further focus.
- Less Personal Pronoun Use and Flat or Reduced Afect – This method of speaking can be an indication of someone who is distancing himself / herself from the truth. Again, it should be a red flag to the interviewer to pay closer attention to what is being said at the time in context with the entirety of the statement.
Other statement determinants include; general language discrepancies and misuse of words, evasiveness in answering specific questions, remarks indicating that the person is trying too hard to appear truthful, etc. Cumulatively, red flags or inconsistencies in this category should trigger signs from one or more of the other five categories to surface reinforcing that deception is occurring.
Final Thoughts
There are many different opinions about how best to uncover deception, and some are better than others. Various practitioners will emphasize different approaches as to how best to get to the truth and uncover lies. Some, for instance, will focus on negative statements or denials while others will direct attention to observable facial expressions, physical changes and body language. Still another camp will direct your attention to voice and content. Frankly, it’s all important, but it can be daunting to try and recognize all of the factors at play when you are in the middle of taking a deposition, conducting a job interview or talking with a witness or a claimant. Here are some suggestions:
- If you have the luxury to work with a partner who can help observe and listen, you effectively are doubling the ability to identify a lie. Unfortunately, having a second set of trained eyes and ears adds to cost and is not always possible. So when alone, practice what you do know!
- Always be on your guard especially where money is involved! Recognize that statistics are in favor of over 1 in 4 persons communicating a lie in some form in routine day-to-day events. For instance, over 25 % of applicants lie on resumes, while many more will shade the truth either by minor distortions or by omissions. So is it possible that only 1 out of 3 people will tell “the whole truth?” Some experts think so! At the very least, you should heighten your awareness when gathering information that relates to a financial settlement, a job, a debt, an insurance claim…anything that involves a monetary reward of some kind.
- As a student of human behavior, there is value in your having knowledge of as many of the six factors that can signal if someone is lying. If you want to get better at the art of deception detection, there are a variety of courses and webinars that will provide you with structured information on how to increase that knowledge and practice it. As an alternative to those more costly approaches, I recommend taking time to read one or both of the following books on the topic. You can do it at your leisure and practice as you learn. Both are well reviewed and excellent reads:
Getting to the Truth: A practical, scientific approach to behaviour analysis for professionals (Behaviour Analysis and Investigative Interviewing Book 1) by Cliff Lansley
Telling Lies: Clues to Deceit in the Marketplace, Politics, and Marriage (Revised Edition) by Paul Ekman
Over the last several hundred years, experts in the field of deception detection and practioners have gotten better and better at uncovering lies. Over the last 50 years, researchers have found predictible ways to identify lies, and, in recent years, the thinking has more and more tended toward a systematic approach to identification. For instance, Lansley and Archer have dissected the six categories described in my recent Newsletters identifying 27 different behaviorial indicators. My best advice is to understand, be able to recognize and then pay attention to these indicators. Look at each connection you have with another human as an opportunity to practice and develop your skillset. After the encounter, evaluate so that you can practice at a more informed level when embarking on the next encounter.
Research North, Inc. (RNI), is a professional private detective service providing support to the business community, the insurance industry and individuals in Michigan and Wisconsin since 1981. The company also offers pre-employment background checks to small and medium sized businesses through a subsidiary called Backgroundcheckswork.com that is fully staffed by professional investigators who are retired from law enforcement.
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