NCJ Number
150567
Date Published
1993
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Two studies investigated possible differences between individuals who were truthful and individuals who were deceptive and between objective and subjective indicators of deception.
Abstract
Both studies were conducted in the context of police interviews. The first study involved 51 male and 13 female students from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. They filled out questionnaires that contained gender, age, and social skill items. An actor playing the role of a uniformed police officer interviewed and videotaped subjects. Results underscored cognitive theory; hiding the truth was accompanied by fewer hand, arm, feet, and leg movement. The second study involved 80 male and 11 female detectives who were an average of 15 years older than subjects in the first study. Each detective was exposed to one videotape in which every subject appeared at least once. After seeing the videotape, detectives filled out questionnaires that provided information on gender, age, years on the police force, and interview experience. Even though detectives were inaccurate in identifying liars, they agreed highly among themselves about who was lying and who was telling the truth. Detectives reached consensus on 18 of 40 suspects. The authors recommend a training program for detectives that focuses on how to identify deception. 26 references