How to use nonverbal behaviors to aid in

interrogation and deception detection

Nonverbal Communication in a Police Interrogation

What is nonverbal communication?Nonverbal communication involves

several different aspects:

Facial Expression and GazeKinesicsHapticsVocalicsProxemicsPhysical AppearanceChronemicsThe Environment

Focus AreasFor the purpose of this training session we

will focus on certain areas of nonverbal communication that will aid you, the officer, in interrogation.

Facial Expression and GazeKinesicsPhysical AppearanceVocalics

Facial Expression and Gaze According to Canary, Cody, & Manusov (2003) facial

expression and gaze refers to how people use their facial expressions and eyes to communicate (p.104).

Facial Primacy, a term coined by researchers, indicates that facial expression influences our initial impressions and appraisals.

Facial Expression continuedAccording to the study conducted by Levine,

Asada, & Park (2006) significantly less eye contact was seen by participants who were known to be telling a lie.

Canary, Cody, & Manusov (2003) state squinting, or closed eyes, often times is a manifestation of depression

It is important to assess these messages while interviewing as they can indicate lying,

possible mental illness, and several other important messages.

Signs of deceptionThe following list from Canary, Cody, &

Masunov (2003) are commonly found facial and gaze tells of deception. It is important to note that these are only relatively reliable, not completely.

Pupil Dilation – When lying, the pupils will dilate

Blinking – Liars often will blink more frequently

As the presentation continues this list will become more complete

KinesicsKinesics involves

facial expression, eye movements, and any other movements made with the body.

Gestures are the most well known of any kinesthetic movement.

Kinesics continuedGestures, or what we call emblems in

communication, are gestures that have been culturally created to communicate without words.

As noted above, emblems are culturally created, meaning different cultures might have different gestures.

According to Mausehund, Timm, & King (1995) multiculturalism is on the rise. This is important to keep in mind when interrogating someone of a different culture.

Kinesics continuedAn example of this is seen

with eye contact.

South East Asian cultures believe a lack of eye contact shows respect and gives authority to the speaker.

If an officer didn’t know this, than a South East Asian who thought he was showing respect might be seen as a liar according to the information we just gave you about lack of eye contact.

A quick note about hands

Hand movements, a type of gesture, are often studied in relation to deception.

Vrij, Akehurst, & Morris (1997) found that individuals that are better able to control their nonverbal behavior will make fewer hand movements when being deceptive.

List of deceptive tellsFacial Expression and Gaze

Pupil DilationBlinking

KinesicsAdaptors - Often times, liars will engage in

rubbing hands or arms together

Physical AppearancePhysical appearance includes hair color,

body type, clothing choices, and unique physical characteristics.

Physical appearance is one of the first things we, as humans, appraise when we make character judgments.

Physical AppearanceUnfortunately, when we make judgments

by physical appearance we tend to be incorrect. Canary, Cody, Manusov (2003) indicate that often times we do not reveal personality characteristics nonverbally.

Think of the popular story “The Prince and the Pauper”

Often referred to as paralanguage and can refer to: rate, pitch, character, volume, and amount of variation used while speaking.

Vocalics are often mistaken for verbal communication.

Vocalics

Vocalics continuedWhen we communicate, often times people will

groan, laugh, or even use silence to substitute for words.

Being receptive to vocalics will aid any interrogation.

Canary, Cody, Masunov (2003) say that less monotonous, less nasal and shrill voices are related to people that are extraverted, open and conscientious.

Think how different the words, “I’m sorry” can be depending on how they are said!

List of deceptive tells Facial Expression and Gaze

Pupil DilationBlinking

KinesicsAdaptors (rubbing hands, or arms together)

VocalicsResponse Length – Liars usually will not talk as long as

truth tellers do.Speech Errors – Liars make more errors while speaking

(switching from past tense to present tense, etc).Speech Hesitation – Liars will use more fillers such as

“Ahhh”, or “Umm”.Pitch – Liars will speak in a higher pitch than someone

telling the truth.

ReviewNonverbal communication has several

different aspects, but we focused on four major areas that will aid with interrogation

Facial Expression and GazeKinesics – body movements

Physical AppearanceVocalics

and we compiled a reference list of common deceptive tells…

List of deceptive tellsFacial Expression and Gaze

Pupil DilationBlinking

Kinesics – body movementAdaptors – rubbing hands or arms together

Vocalics Response LengthSpeech ErrorsSpeech Hesitation

ReferencesCanary, D.J., Cody, M.J., & Manusov, V.L. (2003).

Interpersonal Communication: A goals-based approach. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Levine,T.R., Asada, K.J.K., & Park, H.S. (2006). The lying chicken and the gaze avoidant egg: Eye contact, deception, and causal order. Southern Communication Journal, 71(4), 401-411.

Mausehand, J.A., Timm, S.A., & King, A.S. (1995). Diversity training: Effects of intervention treatment of nonverbal awareness. Business Communication Quarterly, 58, 27-30.

Vrij, A., Akehurst, L., & Morris, P. (1997). Individual differences in hand movements during deception. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 21(2), 87- 102.