Deception Detection: How Can You Tell When Someone Is Lying?

IInnSSiinnCC The Sisters in Crime Newsletter Volume XXII • Number 1 March 2009 Deception Detection: How Can You Tell When S• bloanchming, flueshinog, brneath-eholdinig s Lynoit. Inf thegsusp?ect was involved, a distinct activity ByDKecaepthtieonrintaekeRs maamnysillalengad l forms, so foren - • incongruence between responses and spike called a MERMER (memory and encoding sic investigators strive to develop ways to effec - body movements related multifaceted electroencephalographic re - tively spot it. Offenders might stage a crime • reduced emphatic gestures sponse) will reveal that a record of the incident is scene, falsely accuse, None is definitive, but these behaviors occur stored in his brain. While this sounds impressive, twist facts or feign an more often in those with reason to deceive. the accuracy of “brain fingerprinting” is still un - illness, but as yet der review. there’s no simple for - 2) Statement Analysis Similarly, researchers at Germany’s Max mula for tapping a This is a common tool for interrogations. An Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain liar. Some are easy to investigator asks an open-ended question - Sciences had subjects make silent but deliberate read, others are not, "What happened?" — which encourages the sub - decisions about calculations before they saw the and research shows ject to fill in the blanks, as a recorded oral or writ - numbers on a computer screen. Comparing their that even profession - ten statement. The subject selects the starting computations against distinct activity in the pre - als with repeated ex - and ending points. Analysis then focuses on the frontal cortex —“thought signatures” — record - posure to deception description of events leading up to a crime, the ed during their deliberations helped to match the are poor lie-catchers. However, this skill may im - crime itself and the aftermath. Detectives watch brain activity pattern to the decision process and prove with training and sophisticated tech - for a balance of details in each area, noting thus predict future such decisions. The re - niques. Let's look at some now in use: whether subjects provide more information than searchers claim this experiment offers the first necessary or skip something crucial. Also, a step toward covert detection of intent — includ - 1) Body Language change in tone or speed of delivery can indicate ing the intent to deceive. A popular notion holds that lying takes effort, degree of comfort or discomfort with the infor - yielding automatic signals — faster pulse, dilated mation. Other clues include changes in language 5) Psychological Assessments pupils, compressed lips — especially when the when discussing another person, hesitations Some psychological tests identify specific stakes are high. However, honest but anxious peo - about some item, shifts in pronoun use or shifts types of deception. For example, the Minnesota ple might display similar symptoms, while lying from first to third person. Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) psychopaths show none. In fact, “reading” a per - and the Structured Interview of Reported Symp - son’s face is often unreliable. 3) Lie Detectors toms (SIRS) detect malingering or faking a men - A better guide involves patience: the key is to The polygraph measures involuntary physio - tal illness. question subjects long enough to observe base - logical responses to potentially incriminating Research on deception detection has been in - line behaviors, so as to recognize heightened questions. While practitioners vouch for its accu - tense in recent years and whether achieved by stress to specific themes and what people do to racy, research suggests it falls short. Even less im - machine or well-trained humans, proof of sus - calm it. Anxious people freeze, seek exits or pre - pressive are voice stress evaluators. Supposedly, tained accuracy will have a radical effect on the pare to defend themselves and the resulting be - the voice reaches a higher pitch when someone legal system. haviors can signal potential deception. They in - lies but the underlying assumption is that stress- clude: related pitch is equivalent to deception. It’s not. • more negative than positive statements • increased vocal pitch 4) Brain Assessments Katherine Ramsland is a writer, professor of • overly deliberative responses Psychiatrist Lawrence Farwell claims that all forensic psychology and former therapist. Among • increased shrugs, foot movements and experience is stored in the brain, so the brain will her 34 books are True Stories of CSI , The Human nervous habits recognize what’s familiar to us — even a crime — Predator and The Criminal Mind . She has also • venting (pulling a collar away) and signal this with neural impulses. Sensors on a written more than 900 articles and her next book • protecting the throat headband monitor a suspect’s brain activity while focuses on serial murder investigations. • pointing feet toward an exit words or images from the crime scene are flashed This article supports SinC’s Professional Educa - • using obstacles as shields on a computer screen. Some are relevant, others tion and Career Development goal. Get aClue Sisters in Crime Newsletter The mission of Sisters in Crime is to promote the pro - fessional development and advancement of women Deception Detection .......................... 1 crime writers to achieve equality in the industry. President’s Message ..................... .......3 Judy Clemens , President Jim Huang , Bookstore Liaison Marcia Talley ,Vice President/President Elect Mary Boone , Library Liaison Mar y Saums , Secretary Charlaine Harris, At Large SinC Into Great Writing .................... 3 Kathryn Wall, Treasurer/Authors Coalition Liaison Nancy Martin , At Large Robin Burcell ,Chapter Liaison Julianne Balmain , Monitoring Project Breakfast at Malice ............................ 3 Cathy Pickens, Publicity Roberta Isleib, Past President Bonnie J. Cardone , InSinC Editor/ Graphic Designer Peggy Moody , Web Maven Memorable Characterization ........ ....4 Beth Wasson , Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044-8933; Al Blanchard Contest ................ .........5 Phone: 785/842-1325; Fax 785/856-6314; e-mail: [email protected] Presidents of Sisters in Crime Crime on Loan .................................. 5 1987-88 Sara Paretsky ; 1988-89 Nancy Pickard ; 1989-90 Margaret Maron ; 1990-91 Susan Dunlap ; 1991- 92 Carolyn G. Hart ; 1992-93 P.M. Carlson ; 1993-94 Linda Grant ; 1994-95 Barbara D’Amato ; 1995-96 Bookstore Database Update .......... .....5 Elaine Raco Chase ; 1996-97 Annette Meyers ; 1997-98 Sue Henry ; 1998-99 Medora Sale ; 1999-00 Bar - bara Burnett Smith ; 2000-01 Claire Carmichael McNab ; 2001-02 Eve K. 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Cardone In Memoriam .................................... 9 Docket material will be due April 15 and should 805/938-1156 be sent to: E-mail: b jcardon e@ hotmail. com Chapter Spotlight ............................. .9 Patricia Gulley 1743 N. Jantzen Avnue Conferences ..................................... .10 Portland, OR 97217-7849 E-mail: [email protected] Moving? ALA Conference ........................ ......11 Change of address notifications Other honors, awards and events of great “pith should be sent to both Beth Wasson, and moment” should be written up as short, sepa - SinC executive secretary, P.O. Box Review Monitoring Project ........ ......11 rate notices. These can be as short as a paragraph. 442124, Lawrence, KS 66044-8933 No publicity/promotion of individual members, The Docket ................................ ......12 please. and to Rowan Mountain, Inc., P.O. Box We particularly welcome reprints from SinC 10111, Blacksburg, VA 24062-0111. Let’s Talk Mysteries ..................... .....13 chapter newsletters. Your Newsletter Via E-mail ......... ....13 SinC Financial Report ................ .....14 Visit Sisters in Crime online at: Are Blog Tours Worthwhile? ....... .....14 www.sistersincrime.org Virtual Book Signings ...................... 15 Promotional materials available to SinC members — Have your bookmarks or postcards designed in color or black and white. SinC’s publicity mailing list of 5,000 bookstores, libraries, reviewers, etc. is available via direct ad - Deadlines ........................... .............16 dressing through Rowan Mountain, Inc., P.O. Box 10111, Blacksburg, VA 24062-0111. For more information, write Gavin Faulkner. E-mail: [email protected]. Web: www.rowanmountain.com. Phone 540/449-6178. JUST THE FACTS • InSinC Newsletter is the official publication of Sisters in Crime International and is published four times a year. • Dues and other Sisters in Crime

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