What are cues for deception and why are most people bad at Spotting them?

Most people are terrible at spotting deception. Law enforcement is no different. Studies have shown that law enforcement personnel, even with extensive training are able to detect deception properly at just above 50%. So, police officers are barely better than a coin flip or guess.

Part of the reason is that we rely too much on unscientifically backed information about body language, and not enough on the appropriate scientific studies and a person’s verbal language. We also tend to believe what we want to believe, which can lead us astray. What this means is we can often take one sign of body language we observe in one person that correctly indicates deception (ex: lack of eye contact). Then we try and make a rule to say this is a sign of deception in every person. There are ways to spot a liar, if you know what to look for. But unfortunately, it is not found in a simple list of body language cues you can universally print out and check off for every person you interview.

For example, nervousness can be a telltale sign of deception. If someone is fidgeting, avoiding eye contact, or sweating, they may be lying. However, if you’ve ever been called up to IA even when you didn’t do anything wrong, did you fidget, avoid eye contact, sweat, and generally get nervous trying to figure out why you are there and what you might have done wrong? 

This is no different for the public. In fact, these indicators may be exaggerated in people that are not often in contact with police. They may show signs of deception even when they did nothing wrong if you’re looking at simple physical cues and body language. You have to dig deeper in order to determine what cues mean what to that person. 

CULTURE AND BACKGROUND ARE IMPORTANT

When trying to understand if someone is being deceptive, it is important to take into account cultural differences. People from different cultures have different ways of expressing themselves and what may be considered respectful in one culture could be seen as disrespectful in another.

For example, in some cultures it is considered rude to make eye contact while talking, while in others not making eye contact can be seen as a sign of deception. Paying attention to personal space and physical contact can also make or break your interview. In some cultures, it is normal to stand close to someone when talking, while in others, people tend to keep their distance. In some cultures, it is normal to kiss a friend on the cheek every time you meet with them. While in other cultures this is reserved for only romantic interests and close family members. 

Even people from the same country can have vastly different physical mannerisms and cultural interactions. While not going into specific areas of the United States, there are certain areas where loud, boisterous, aggressive verbal encounters are considered the norm and are not taken to be signs of aggression. Whereas if someone who from that part of the country travels to another part of the US their normal behavior may be seen as incredibly abrasive and hostile! Understanding cultural differences can help you better spot deception.

THE SCIENCE OF DECEPTION CUES: WHAT CUES EXIST AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

Deception cues can be divided into two main categories: non-verbal and verbal. Non-verbal cues include body language, such as eye contact, facial expressions, physical movements or lack thereof, and body posture. Verbal cues include changes in vocal cadence, pitch, sentence fluency, word choice, and sentence structure.

People often give off multiple deception cues at the same time. For example, someone may avert their gaze while telling a lie, or they may speak in a higher-pitched voice than usual. Which is better at detecting deception? 

Both can be useful, but to know anything about the physical cues, you must be able to obtain a baseline of their body language prior to your interview about the topic. Verbal cues have been shown to be much more consistent in determining deception in large scientific studies. 

One reason for this maybe the popularity of Internet and television shows attempting to discuss the physical cues of deception. If people are aware of the physical cues, they often take steps to avoid displaying these cues.

THE IMPLICATIONS OF BEING BAD AT SPOTTING DECEPTION CUES: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONSEQUENCES

Lying is a part of everyday life. Whether it’s a white lie to spare someone’s feelings or a more serious deception, we all do it at one point or another. Hopefully, it’s only little white lies! What this means is people are generally good at lying. 

There can be personal consequences to not being able to spot when someone is lying. For example, you may be more likely to be taken advantage of in a business deal or by a romantic partner. Maybe you really did believe your car’s manufacturer’s warranty was about to expire and had to give your social security number and the name of your first pet to get it extended. Maybe you really believed you won the Canadian lottery, which you don’t remember plying in the first place, but if you just send that $1,532 to pay for the taxes…. 

On a professional level, the implications of not being able to spot deception cues can be more far-reaching. You may not spot the cues for deception and believe someone who is actually guilty of being innocent. Additionally, you may incorrectly read the body language and make a determination they are being deceptive to you. This can lead you down a path of increasing interrogatory pressure which could lead to a false confession. We won’t go into the science behind false confessions in this article, just suffice it to say that they do happen and it’s very bad for your career if they falsely confess in your interview!

HOW DO YOU GET BETTER AT SPOTTING A LIAR?

There are a number of ways to become better at detecting deception. However, trial and error or listening to anecdotal evidence may not be the fastest or best course of action. 

Here at RTI we have developed an intensive, cutting edge, and scientifically backed method for interviews and interrogations. Our PIRANHA INTERVIEWING technique will give you the framework to get the best, most detailed, and most courtroom worthy interview possible. 

We give you specific ways to build rapport, establish baseline physical cues, obtain detailed narratives from your subjects, and gain actionable intelligence! 

Take our class and become the interviewer you always wanted to be!