Law and Human Behavior · 2002 · 248 citations · 37 references
Forensic PsychologyAuthentic High-stake LiarsInformation ForensicsCommunicationMisinformationPsychologySocial SciencesJournalismPost-truthSocial IdentityBehavioral SciencesManipulation (Psychology)TrustDeceptive BehaviorEye ContactCriminal JusticePolice InterviewsInterpersonal CommunicationArtsDeception DetectionPersuasion
Few studies have examined deception in real high‑stakes settings; this work is the most extensive to date. The authors analyzed 16 suspects’ police interview videos, selecting clips confirmed by witness statements and forensic evidence, and compared deceptive versus truthful behaviors. Deceptive clips showed fewer blinks and longer pauses, but eye contact was unchanged, contradicting the belief that liars fidget and avoid eye contact, though individual differences were substantial.
This study is one of the very few, and the most extensive to date, which has examined deceptive behavior in a real-life, high-stakes setting. The behavior of 16 suspects in their police interviews has been analyzed. Clips of video footage have been selected where other sources (reliable witness statements and forensic evidence) provide evidence that the suspect lied or told the truth. Truthful and deceptive behaviors were compared. The suspects blinked less frequently and made longer pauses during deceptive clips than during truthful clips. Eye contact was maintained equally for deceptive and truthful clips. These findings negate the popular belief amongst both laypersons and professional lie detectors (such as the police) that liars behave nervously by fidgeting and avoiding eye contact. However, large individual differences were present.
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Detecting Deceit via Analysis of Verbal and Nonverbal Behavior
Aldert Vrij, Katherine Edward, Kim P. Roberts et al. · Journal of Nonverbal Behavior · 2000 · 375 citations