Liars may be able to be discovered simply through the words they use.Researchers in Britain, Sweden and Canada suggest verbal methods of deception detection are more useful than non-verbal methods of communication.
Aldert Vrij of the University of Portsmouth in England, Anders Granhag of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and Stephen Porter of the University of British Columbia in Canada say there are psychological differences between liars and truth-tellers that can be exploited in the search for the truth.
In the study, the researchers interviewed suspects. The study participants were asked to give detailed statements about their activities through open questions such as "What did you do yesterday between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.?"
This interview style encourages suspects to talk and allows for opportunities to identify inconsistencies. Asking very specific questions that a suspect is unlikely to anticipate may also help in lie detection, the researchers conclude.
The findings are published in the Psychological Science in the Public Interest.
