Statement Analysis Explained

Statement Analysis is now being used by the FBI, the Secret Service, and many other federal agencies; it is being used by law enforcement agencies and military agencies throughout the U.S., Canada, and Australia; by bank and insurance investigators; and by private industry.

Statement Analysis is a linguistic polygraph.

"Statement Analysis depends entirely upon analyzing written or verbal statements. The basic premise is that the structure and content of a subject's statement will reveal when there is an attempt at deception. We all write in different ways, with different characteristic choices of words, and what we use words for is to define our reality. When we lie, we're trying to juggle two things in our minds at the same time: the real events and the invented or disguised version of them. The language we use reflects that tension -- and when it does, the language we use does not follow our normal patterns." says Donald Bender a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in clinical and forensic statement analysis.

Statement Analysis looks at the words, tense, how the writer refers to themselves and others, to determine the likelihood of a truthful statement.

So often, we are looking for nonverbal behaviors that we do not adequately examine the words that are being said, and how they are being said. Investigators will often have several people in the interview room, each with a specific item they are focusing on for this very reason. It is hard to focus on both the noverbals and the words at the same time.

The author of the above book has a website where you can learn more about this concept at http://www.statementanalysis.com/.

Knowing this is critical to determining truthfulness; this needs to be a skill you develop.◦

Statement Analysis Explained

Paul Ekman is ready to assign grades to the Fox drama he inspired

An article was published by the Washington Post today, July 13, 2009 called "On TV, reading between the lies" by Marc D. Allan.

"With the first season of “Lie to Me” completed, Paul Ekman is ready to assign grades to the Fox drama he inspired: A-minus for entertainment value, B-plus for realism."

Read On TV, reading between the lies◦

Paul Ekman is ready to assign grades to the Fox drama he inspired

When You Ask Someone a Question and they Answer with a Question?...?

It means you just asked them a sensitive question.

Let's take a look at this exchange:

Police Detective: "What do you think should be done to someone who steals mail and people's identities?"

Suspect: "“To someone who does that? What I think should be done?...”

First, the questions are asked to stall for time, they are not asked with the intention of receiving an answer. Secondly, anytime you get some sort of question it is a sensitive question. People do this to:

• It takes the "sting" out of the initial question.
• It is a way of avoiding facing the question head on.
• It is a distancing technique to separate them from the question.
  

Now that you see it for what it is, it accomplishes nothing but putting you on guard.

Here is another example, "Have you ever shoplifted anything in your life?"

"Who me? I would never steal from someone else."

This works for all conversations with anyone... and it is easy to pick up on.

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When You Ask Someone a Question and they Answer with a Question?...?

Conan O'Brien Flashes Eye Brows Showing, "Hi, I Know You"

What we see here is the raising of the eye brows- that is involuntary- that we all do when we see someone we know.

It says with the face, "How are you doing" and acknowledges the other person as familiar.

The funny thing, is we do it involuntary when we see others we know, but it can be faked, and when you do it to complete strangers, they do it back to YOU!

With television personalities, and others in the public eye, they should return it when they see it, or they may appear rude or stuck-up. The stranger, when recognizing a celeberty, will assume a deeper connection, because, after all, they are in their living room all the time.

He has also perfected the perfect social smile, exposing teeth, and outer mouth turned up.

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Conan O'Brien Flashes Eye Brows Showing, "Hi, I Know You"

Obama Show Authority in Subtle Ways

L'AQUILA, ITALY - JULY 08: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (L) and US President Barack Obama (R) greet one another at the Guardia Di Finanza School of Coppito on July 8, 2009 in L'Aquila, Italy. World leaders attending the G8 summit are expected to discuss tackling world hunger and the global reduction of greenhouse gases. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

When another person places their hand on another's back, guiding them, it is a dominant expression of power. The office of the President of the United States signifies power and authority. When running for election, Obama, a master of gestures, used this quite effectively to appear "presidential" and a leader.◦

Obama Show Authority in Subtle Ways

Lying and Contractions, what's the function...

School House Rock didn't cover contractions- they did conjunctions instead- too bad because contractions can tell us so much more when we are looking for LYING.

Take a look at these two sentences:

"I did not do it!" or "I didn't do it!"

Which one is more likely to be truthful?

Police and interviewers have long known this rule: Statistically, 60% of the people that use contractions are being truthful. The guilty want to make the NOT stand out. Thou does protest too loudly.

When I analyze transcripts of depositions and interviews using Linguistic Software this is one of the items the program pings on.◦

Lying and Contractions, what's the function...

Photo Ops for World Leaders

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) greets U.S. President Barack Obama as he arrives for a round table session at the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy on July 8, 2009. (UPI Photo/Alex Volgin) Photo via Newscom

Leaders always want to be photographed on the left hand side of the picture, long ago it was learned that those on the left look more powerful and in control of the situation. Sometimes it can be funny how they jockey for position.

Obama likes to get in close to those he is being photographed with; I believe it is to create a sense of 'we're friends' and I also believe it has contributed to his rock star appeal and charisma. This sometimes doesn't work with other world leaders and in cultures where there is more distance between individuals greeting each other, and can lead to awkward moments.◦

Photo Ops for World Leaders

Asymmetry of the Face Translates to Likability

So often we are looking at the movement of the facial muscles, while there can be certain things learned by the measurements of the face. You can correlate this to certain assumptions, such as combining it with data about the ability to tell lies based on attractiveness.

Paul Ekman talks about an associate he had that could tell, from wanted photographs, what type of crime he committed. Could determine which isolated tribe was peaceful and which was violent.

We also know as we grow older our most common emotion becomes painted on our faces, (and the most attractive older Americans have smiles painted on their faces) so we can determine long term base emotions.

Knowing more about the face makes the information more clearer.


The Science:

Symmetry Is Related to Sexual Dimorphism in Faces: Data Across Culture and Species

Many animals both display and assess multiple signals. Two prominently studied traits are symmetry and sexual dimorphism, which, for many animals, are proposed cues to heritable fitness benefits. These traits are associated with other potential benefits, such as fertility. In humans, the face has been extensively studied in terms of attractiveness. Faces have the potential to be advertisements of mate quality and both symmetry and sexual dimorphism have been linked to the attractiveness of human face shape.

Read the full article by clicking here.

Citation: Little AC, Jones BC, Waitt C, Tiddeman BP, Feinberg DR, et al. (2008) Symmetry Is Related to Sexual Dimorphism in Faces: Data Across Culture and Species. PLoS ONE 3(5): e2106. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002106◦

Asymmetry of the Face Translates to Likability

Jeremy Piven Shows Contempt

Jul 9 2009

Premiere Of HBO's Entourage Season 6 at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, CA Pictured: Jeremy Piven Picture by: Russ Einhorn / Splash News

It would have been great to see what caused this! His face is saying, " You're saying that to ME. You..." or it could be something along the lines of "why are their more people taking pictures of HIM..."◦

Jeremy Piven Shows Contempt

Actor Kevin Connolly Fig Leaf

Jul 9 2009
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 09: Actor Kevin Connolly arrives at the premiere of HBO's 'Entourage' Season 6, on July 9, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Here Connolly stands with his hands in front of the "jewels" because it makes him feel more secure. You may have seen this protective posture when soccer players line up during a penalty kick. Connolly feels vulnerable and assumes this position to create feelings of comfort and reassurance.

Connolly is also showing subtle contempt, by raising one side of his mouth.◦

Actor Kevin Connolly Fig Leaf