Happy New Year to my readers here. 2025 is upon us and this is my first blog of the New Year. With each new year we often make resolutions which statistics say are normally broken by the second Friday of January, known as Quitters Day. Regardless, I am going to challenge you in this blog to make some changes, not coupled with resolutions, but linked to mission.
We have done things in the interviewing, investigation, and auditing realm, because “that is the way we have always done it” or some other legacy reason not based in evidence but based in folklore. These need to change. So let’s be about it now. As for me, I am doing a wholesale review of everything I teach and write on, to remove anything that is not consistent with an evidence-based approach. It is time to move on! If this old dog can do it, so can you. It’s not that I did it wrong, its that I can do it better which raises the likelihood of success, which is what our mission is. Now, if I keep doing it the same way, when I know that there is something statistically proven to be better, then I am wrong.
Humans have been trying to master lie detection for thousands of years — and, frankly, failing miserably. For example, polygraph tests, often hailed as lie-detecting marvels, are notoriously unreliable. With just 15 minutes of training, many people can consistently beat them. Even the U.S. National Academy of Sciences has cautioned against their use, stating that “the Federal government should not rely on polygraph examinations for screening prospective or current employees, or to identify spies or other national security risks because the test results are too inaccurate.”
But all is not lost. Real science does offer effective tools for spotting deception, grounded in psychological research and evidence-based methods. Let’s dive into how the best lie-catchers do it—and how you can, too. Do a self-analysis of your repertoire. What needs changing? Again, I have changed a bunch, and you can to without much effort. It just takes commitment.
The Birth of Modern Lie Detection
In 2009, the U.S. government established the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG) to advance best practices for detecting deception. By 2016, the HIG had invested over $15 million in more than 100 research projects, enlisting top psychologists to uncover reliable methods. This was groundbreaking in bringing together academia, intelligence, law enforcement, and others to work together to scientifically address these issues. Their findings have reshaped how experts approach investigative interviewing. Let’s break down some of their strategies in a “let’s fix it now” and digestible way:
1. Be Nice: Building Rapport
You’ve got to get the liar to like you. Think of yourself as a “friendly journalist.” A good journalist does their homework (planning and preparation), going into interviews armed with background information. Similarly, the more you know about someone’s situation, the sharper your internal lie detector will be.
And then there’s the “friendly” part. Research shows that being respectful and non-threatening encourages people to open up. The HIG findings confirm that the stereotypical “bad cop” approach rarely works. Instead, treating someone with kindness and respect makes them more likely to talk—and make a mistake.
2. Don’t Rely on Body Language
Aldert Vrij, a leading psychology professor and expert on lie detection, emphasizes that body language cues are rarely reliable indicators of deception. Take the myth that liars won’t look you in the eye. The HIG’s research debunked this: “Gaze aversion has never been shown to be a reliable indicator.” In fact, a 1978 study revealed that incarcerated psychopaths often maintain eye contact more than non-psychopaths.
So, skip the clichés, legacy techniques, and folklore, and focus on more substantial cues, like inconsistencies in their story. Watch the non-verbals, but listen to the verbals.
3. Ask Unanticipated Questions
Want to trip up a liar? Throw them a curveball. Standard questions often let liars prepare their answers. But unanticipated queries can reveal cracks in their facade.
For example, asking an underage-looking person at a bar how old they are might yield a quick “I’m 21.” But ask for their exact date of birth, and a liar will likely pause to calculate. Similarly, airport security studies show that standard screening methods catch less than 5% of lying passengers, while unanticipated questions increase detection rates to 66%.
Start with expected questions to build a baseline. Then, introduce unexpected ones, like:
- “What was Emily wearing at the meeting?” (Easy for a truth-teller but tricky for a liar.)
- “So if I call your boss, she’ll confirm you were there yesterday?” (Truthful people answer quickly; liars hesitate.)
Gauge their reactions. Do they pause? Look flustered? These can be telltale signs. The way we ask questions, the questions we ask, the cognitive effect of questions are all essential skills to master. Do you have the training? Do you need the training? These will change your effectiveness as an interviewer.
4. Use Strategic Evidence
Preparation and planning is key. Before the conversation, gather as much information as possible. Then, use it strategically during the interview.
Start by building rapport and getting them to talk. Once they commit to a story, introduce evidence that contradicts their claims. For example:
- You: “You said you were with Gary yesterday?”
- Them: “Yes.”
- You: “That’s interesting, because Gary’s been in France all week.”
The goal is to lead them into repeated contradictions. Research from Swedish police showed that officers trained in “strategic use of evidence” detected lies 85.4% of the time, compared to the 56.1% success rate of untrained officers.
Incremental evidence disclosure can also push liars to confess, either out of frustration or embarrassment. There is over ten years of research that speaks to the efficacy of this approach. Are you doing it?
5. Don’t Challenge Too Early
It’s tempting to confront someone immediately when you suspect they’re lying, but this often backfires. Accusing them too soon may cause them to shut down or start adapting their story. I used to have a fun choice question I used (no more), “I have this narrowed down to two choices; are you stupid or are you lying?” I’ve never had anyone choose lying. We would rather be stupid than be seen as liars.
Liars improve over time because they receive feedback when their lies work or fail. Most truth-tellers, on the other hand, don’t hone their storytelling skills. By holding back your challenge until the liar has fully committed to their tale, you prevent them from refining their deception on the spot.
The Science of Detecting Lies
Detecting lies isn’t about catching someone glancing to the left or fidgeting. It’s about understanding human psychology, being prepared, and using strategic questioning techniques. The HIG’s research gives us a roadmap, showing that kindness, preparation, and patience are far more effective than old-school tactics. The body of research and the HIG give us so much more. It is incumbent on us to bring our game to 2025.
So, the next time you’re trying to discern fact from fiction, remember: Be nice, ask unexpected questions, and use your evidence wisely. It’s not magic—just good science. Training is important. We need to understand what will make a difference and advance good interviewing. I can provide it or recommend providers teaching evidence-based techniques. Do your research, find the right provider, maximize your training dollar investment.
Anderson Investigative Associates is positioned to custom-tailor training to your specific needs. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the subject of science based lie detection, or any training need, please reach out. Additional issues pertaining to interviewing, auditing, and investigations can be found in other blogs and videos that I have produced and are contained in most blocks of instruction that our company presents.
If you have additional questions, comments, or have an interview topic you would like me to address, give me a shout. In the meantime, be well, stay safe out there, and get to work on a self-assessment on what needs to change to optimize your interviewing approach. This work will improve your interviewing and communication skills, and not just in interviews but throughout your life. And I know who could help.
Mark A. Anderson
Director of Training and Development
Anderson Investigative Associates, llc
114 Loucks Avenue
Scottdale, PA 15683
manderson@andersoninvestigative.com
tel:912-571-6686
