Digital Deception

Assignment 8--Vrij+cues = <3

Option A

Vrij tells us, "there is no typical verbal deceptive behavior." However, Statement Validity Assessment and Reality Monitoring are popular lie detection techniques. Vrij outlines the 7 verbal characteristics that may/may not contribute to deceptive behavior: negative statements (denials, disparaging remarks), plausible answers, irrelevant information, overgeneralization (use of "everybody," "always," etc), self-references, direct answers, response length.
Emotions play a role as well. For example, sometimes liars may feel guilty about lying or what they're lying about and may tend to overgeneralize and refrain from self-references. Another example of emotion impacting a deceptive situation is becoming irritable--this might increase usage of short answers or negative statements.
Content complexity is significant in regards to plausibility, as well as deceivers limiting how much they divulge and self-references. However, deceivers want do not want to appear suspiciously trite, so they may provide irrelevant information.
Vrij compiled results from studies dating as far back as 1974 through 1999, and what he found was:
1. Liars make more negative statements
2. Liars make fewer self-references
3. Liars use shorter answers
4. Liars are more indirect
5. Liars seem less plausible
6. Liars stink

In regards to non-verbal deception detection, there has been much less consistent and limited evidence in findings. Since verbal detection has proven more consistent, it should therefore be considered more symptomatic when lies are being told. Unfortunately, as varies points out, as soon as we emphasize certain verbal characteristics in liars, those liars will eventually learn to overcompensate and divert attention from those expected cues.

posted by Jenna @ 11:05 PM