[Music] when my husband meets new friends and
when my husband meets new friends and
when my husband meets new friends and colleagues for the first time and they
colleagues for the first time and they
colleagues for the first time and they ask about me and what I do he will often
ask about me and what I do he will often
ask about me and what I do he will often tell them that I do research and
tell them that I do research and
tell them that I do research and detecting lies and that I train the
detecting lies and that I train the
detecting lies and that I train the police how to interrogate people now
police how to interrogate people now
police how to interrogate people now over the last five or six years no
over the last five or six years no
over the last five or six years no matter how many times I say it’s not
matter how many times I say it’s not
matter how many times I say it’s not interrogation it’s called investigative
interrogation it’s called investigative
interrogation it’s called investigative interviewing the word interrogation
interviewing the word interrogation
interviewing the word interrogation still sticks now the response from these
still sticks now the response from these
still sticks now the response from these new friends and colleagues is almost
new friends and colleagues is almost
new friends and colleagues is almost always something along the lines of well
always something along the lines of well
always something along the lines of well you must not be able to get away with
you must not be able to get away with
you must not be able to get away with anything now I don’t want to drag down
anything now I don’t want to drag down
anything now I don’t want to drag down the festive and the upbeat spirit of
the festive and the upbeat spirit of
the festive and the upbeat spirit of TEDx especially right off the bat but
TEDx especially right off the bat but
TEDx especially right off the bat but I’m afraid to tell you that this whole
I’m afraid to tell you that this whole
I’m afraid to tell you that this whole room is full of a bunch of liars we all
room is full of a bunch of liars we all
room is full of a bunch of liars we all lie at least once or twice a day in fact
lie at least once or twice a day in fact
lie at least once or twice a day in fact research has shown that 60% of adults
research has shown that 60% of adults
research has shown that 60% of adults cannot have one conversation without
cannot have one conversation without
cannot have one conversation without lying at least once this means that in
lying at least once this means that in
lying at least once this means that in one day you could be lied to up to 200
one day you could be lied to up to 200
one day you could be lied to up to 200 times we lie most frequently about our
times we lie most frequently about our
times we lie most frequently about our thoughts our feelings our attitudes and
thoughts our feelings our attitudes and
thoughts our feelings our attitudes and our preferences sometimes we lie to
our preferences sometimes we lie to
our preferences sometimes we lie to influence how other people perceive us
influence how other people perceive us
influence how other people perceive us to save face or to just avoid hurting
to save face or to just avoid hurting
to save face or to just avoid hurting someone’s feelings
lies even oil the wheels of social
lies even oil the wheels of social interaction now not to pick on my
interaction now not to pick on my
interaction now not to pick on my husband again but tomorrow he might tell
husband again but tomorrow he might tell
husband again but tomorrow he might tell me that my talk today was the most
me that my talk today was the most
me that my talk today was the most interesting most engaging speech he’s
interesting most engaging speech he’s
interesting most engaging speech he’s ever heard but if this is untrue and he
ever heard but if this is untrue and he
ever heard but if this is untrue and he was actually bored to tears I might not
was actually bored to tears I might not
was actually bored to tears I might not really want to know that but people lie
really want to know that but people lie
really want to know that but people lie for much more serious reasons as well
for much more serious reasons as well
for much more serious reasons as well such as to hide transgressions these
such as to hide transgressions these
such as to hide transgressions these lies like denying involvement in
lies like denying involvement in
lies like denying involvement in criminal activity can have very serious
criminal activity can have very serious
criminal activity can have very serious consequence
consequence
consequence is for the liar if they’re discovered
is for the liar if they’re discovered
is for the liar if they’re discovered now as psychologists we call these
now as psychologists we call these
now as psychologists we call these high-stakes lies and we’ve been
high-stakes lies and we’ve been
high-stakes lies and we’ve been interested in detecting this kind of
interested in detecting this kind of
interested in detecting this kind of insidious deception for decades there’s
insidious deception for decades there’s
insidious deception for decades there’s this underlying assumption that the act
this underlying assumption that the act
this underlying assumption that the act of being deceptive produces this
of being deceptive produces this
of being deceptive produces this physiological change compared with
physiological change compared with
physiological change compared with telling the truth the theoretical
telling the truth the theoretical
telling the truth the theoretical argument is that lying is more difficult
argument is that lying is more difficult
argument is that lying is more difficult so it’s very cognitively demanding it
so it’s very cognitively demanding it
so it’s very cognitively demanding it produces arousal meaning that the liar
produces arousal meaning that the liar
produces arousal meaning that the liar experiences feelings like guilt fear and
experiences feelings like guilt fear and
experiences feelings like guilt fear and excitement and the liar may attempt to
excitement and the liar may attempt to
excitement and the liar may attempt to control his or her behavior in order to
control his or her behavior in order to
control his or her behavior in order to appear credible so it’s these three
appear credible so it’s these three
appear credible so it’s these three factors that are argued to lead to the
factors that are argued to lead to the
factors that are argued to lead to the differences in the way that we speak and
differences in the way that we speak and
differences in the way that we speak and the way in which we behave when we’re
the way in which we behave when we’re
the way in which we behave when we’re telling a lie now I bet you all think
telling a lie now I bet you all think
telling a lie now I bet you all think you have a pretty good idea of what a
you have a pretty good idea of what a
you have a pretty good idea of what a liar looks like right fidgety avoiding
liar looks like right fidgety avoiding
liar looks like right fidgety avoiding eye contact maybe nervously tapping a
eye contact maybe nervously tapping a
eye contact maybe nervously tapping a pen or shaking one’s foot what about
pen or shaking one’s foot what about
pen or shaking one’s foot what about when someone is nodding their head yes
when someone is nodding their head yes
when someone is nodding their head yes but saying something along the lines of
but saying something along the lines of
but saying something along the lines of well I didn’t have a sexual relationship
well I didn’t have a sexual relationship
well I didn’t have a sexual relationship with that person
with that person
with that person are these behaviors indicators of
are these behaviors indicators of
are these behaviors indicators of deception well if you think that they
deception well if you think that they
deception well if you think that they are and I can see some heads nodding
are and I can see some heads nodding
are and I can see some heads nodding then you’re certainly not alone
then you’re certainly not alone
then you’re certainly not alone seventy-two percent of people worldwide
seventy-two percent of people worldwide
seventy-two percent of people worldwide think that avoiding eye contact is the
think that avoiding eye contact is the
think that avoiding eye contact is the most presumed sign of lying but it turns
most presumed sign of lying but it turns
most presumed sign of lying but it turns out that there are actually very few
out that there are actually very few
out that there are actually very few behavioral cues associated with lying
behavioral cues associated with lying
behavioral cues associated with lying research tells us that there’s really
research tells us that there’s really
research tells us that there’s really only three nodding foot in leg movements
only three nodding foot in leg movements
only three nodding foot in leg movements and illustrator use so just using our
and illustrator use so just using our
and illustrator use so just using our hands to supplement whatever it is that
hands to supplement whatever it is that
hands to supplement whatever it is that we’re saying the most reliable verbal
we’re saying the most reliable verbal
we’re saying the most reliable verbal cue is voiced pitch
cue is voiced pitch
cue is voiced pitch studies tell us that Liars tend to speak
studies tell us that Liars tend to speak
studies tell us that Liars tend to speak in a higher pitched voice compared to
in a higher pitched voice compared to
in a higher pitched voice compared to truth tellers but despite what the
truth tellers but despite what the
truth tellers but despite what the research tells us that there’s few
research tells us that there’s few
research tells us that there’s few behavioral cues related to deception
behavioral cues related to deception
behavioral cues related to deception professionals all over the world truly
professionals all over the world truly
professionals all over the world truly believe that nonverbal behavior and
believe that nonverbal behavior and
believe that nonverbal behavior and emotional expressions are directly
emotional expressions are directly
emotional expressions are directly related to someone’s truthfulness now
related to someone’s truthfulness now
related to someone’s truthfulness now let’s take an extremely consequential
let’s take an extremely consequential
let’s take an extremely consequential situation where lie detection gets
situation where lie detection gets
situation where lie detection gets played out in a very high stakes context
played out in a very high stakes context
played out in a very high stakes context so part of my job is to conduct forensic
so part of my job is to conduct forensic
so part of my job is to conduct forensic interviews with victims of sexual
interviews with victims of sexual
interviews with victims of sexual assault so police detectives will ask me
assault so police detectives will ask me
assault so police detectives will ask me to conduct an interview for their file
to conduct an interview for their file
to conduct an interview for their file for a variety of different reasons my
for a variety of different reasons my
for a variety of different reasons my goal is to obtain as much accurate
goal is to obtain as much accurate
goal is to obtain as much accurate information as possible and to find out
information as possible and to find out
information as possible and to find out the truth of what happened so that the
the truth of what happened so that the
the truth of what happened so that the investigation has the best chance of
investigation has the best chance of
investigation has the best chance of success so when a victim tells me about
success so when a victim tells me about
success so when a victim tells me about being horrifically assaulted but she’s
being horrifically assaulted but she’s
being horrifically assaulted but she’s doing so with a smile on her face does
doing so with a smile on her face does
doing so with a smile on her face does that mean that she’s lying what about
that mean that she’s lying what about
that mean that she’s lying what about when a victim is telling me about being
when a victim is telling me about being
when a victim is telling me about being assaulted by someone that she knows and
assaulted by someone that she knows and
assaulted by someone that she knows and trusts but she can’t recall certain
trusts but she can’t recall certain
trusts but she can’t recall certain details details that I think are really
details details that I think are really
details details that I think are really important and ones that maybe anybody
important and ones that maybe anybody
important and ones that maybe anybody would remember but she can’t does that
would remember but she can’t does that
would remember but she can’t does that mean that she’s making it up and that
mean that she’s making it up and that
mean that she’s making it up and that she’s lying
she’s lying
she’s lying what about when someone is recalling a
what about when someone is recalling a
what about when someone is recalling a gruesome crime but showing no mo
gruesome crime but showing no mo
gruesome crime but showing no mo expression so they’re recalling the
expression so they’re recalling the
expression so they’re recalling the event with a completely flat effect are
event with a completely flat effect are
event with a completely flat effect are they lying the answer to all of the
they lying the answer to all of the
they lying the answer to all of the above is no people who have gone through
above is no people who have gone through
above is no people who have gone through a traumatic event often do not react the
a traumatic event often do not react the
a traumatic event often do not react the same way that they would in a normal
same way that they would in a normal
same way that they would in a normal situation the problem is that this can
situation the problem is that this can
situation the problem is that this can often appear to be deceitful trauma
often appear to be deceitful trauma
often appear to be deceitful trauma changes the way that our brain works the
changes the way that our brain works the
changes the way that our brain works the part of our brain that is responsible
part of our brain that is responsible
part of our brain that is responsible for decision-making judgment and
for decision-making judgment and
for decision-making judgment and executive functioning known as the
executive functioning known as the
executive functioning known as the prefrontal cortex is often completely
prefrontal cortex is often completely
prefrontal cortex is often completely impaired the part of our brain
impaired the part of our brain
impaired the part of our brain responsible for language production
responsible for language production
responsible for language production known as the Broca’s area is also often
known as the Broca’s area is also often
known as the Broca’s area is also often impaired the hippocampus which is
impaired the hippocampus which is
impaired the hippocampus which is responsible for transferring short-term
responsible for transferring short-term
responsible for transferring short-term memories into long-term memory is also
memories into long-term memory is also
memories into long-term memory is also not working properly so to me and my law
not working properly so to me and my law
not working properly so to me and my law enforcement colleagues who really
enforcement colleagues who really
enforcement colleagues who really understand memory many of the seemingly
understand memory many of the seemingly
understand memory many of the seemingly deceptive behaviors actually make sense
deceptive behaviors actually make sense
deceptive behaviors actually make sense and we understand them as a product of
and we understand them as a product of
and we understand them as a product of trauma but to others who maybe don’t
trauma but to others who maybe don’t
trauma but to others who maybe don’t have a comprehensive knowledge of how
have a comprehensive knowledge of how
have a comprehensive knowledge of how trauma affects the brain these behaviors
trauma affects the brain these behaviors
trauma affects the brain these behaviors might look like lying a victim who
might look like lying a victim who
might look like lying a victim who laughs while telling me about her his or
laughs while telling me about her his or
laughs while telling me about her his or her assault well this can be explained
her assault well this can be explained
her assault well this can be explained by using what we know about neuroscience
by using what we know about neuroscience
by using what we know about neuroscience I understand why a victim might be able
I understand why a victim might be able
I understand why a victim might be able to recall every single detail about a
to recall every single detail about a
to recall every single detail about a particular smell or being able to tell
particular smell or being able to tell
particular smell or being able to tell me that there were exactly 17 tiles in
me that there were exactly 17 tiles in
me that there were exactly 17 tiles in the ceiling but at the same time can’t
the ceiling but at the same time can’t
the ceiling but at the same time can’t give me any information about what the
give me any information about what the
give me any information about what the perpetrator looked like during trauma
perpetrator looked like during trauma
perpetrator looked like during trauma your brain has zero ability to control
your brain has zero ability to control
your brain has zero ability to control what it pays attention to our memory
what it pays attention to our memory
what it pays attention to our memory does not work like a video recorder
does not work like a video recorder
does not work like a video recorder there’s no rhyme or reason to what gets
there’s no rhyme or reason to what gets
there’s no rhyme or reason to what gets encoded into our memory and what doesn’t
encoded into our memory and what doesn’t
encoded into our memory and what doesn’t traumatic events are often able to be
traumatic events are often able to be
traumatic events are often able to be recalled
recalled
recalled a very sensory level meaning that things
a very sensory level meaning that things
a very sensory level meaning that things like tastes smells and sounds might be
like tastes smells and sounds might be
like tastes smells and sounds might be able to be recalled in amazing detail
able to be recalled in amazing detail
able to be recalled in amazing detail but perhaps information like visual
but perhaps information like visual
but perhaps information like visual details well that could be a struggle
details well that could be a struggle
details well that could be a struggle trauma and memory are complex and the
trauma and memory are complex and the
trauma and memory are complex and the behavioral outputs often present much
behavioral outputs often present much
behavioral outputs often present much like behaviors that are thought to be
like behaviors that are thought to be
like behaviors that are thought to be associated with lying the problem though
associated with lying the problem though
associated with lying the problem though is that at many different stages at the
is that at many different stages at the
is that at many different stages at the criminal justice system all over the
criminal justice system all over the
criminal justice system all over the world
world
world victims credibility is being assessed
victims credibility is being assessed
victims credibility is being assessed based on behaviors that are not
based on behaviors that are not
based on behaviors that are not supported by science and what does this
supported by science and what does this
supported by science and what does this mean well at the end of the day it could
mean well at the end of the day it could
mean well at the end of the day it could mean that once a case goes to trial a
mean that once a case goes to trial a
mean that once a case goes to trial a judge and our jury relies on behaviors
judge and our jury relies on behaviors
judge and our jury relies on behaviors to determine the victims credibility and
to determine the victims credibility and
to determine the victims credibility and decides that they’re not believable and
decides that they’re not believable and
decides that they’re not believable and then in turn the perpetrator is never
then in turn the perpetrator is never
then in turn the perpetrator is never convicted even if he or she is actually
convicted even if he or she is actually
convicted even if he or she is actually guilty so please be very cautious in
guilty so please be very cautious in
guilty so please be very cautious in your endeavors to detect lies do not
your endeavors to detect lies do not
your endeavors to detect lies do not believe what you see on TV
believe what you see on TV
believe what you see on TV critically question the glossy
critically question the glossy
critically question the glossy commercialized articles that you see all
commercialized articles that you see all
commercialized articles that you see all over the internet promising you top tips
over the internet promising you top tips
over the internet promising you top tips on how to become a human lie detector
on how to become a human lie detector
on how to become a human lie detector verbal and nonverbal behavior should not
verbal and nonverbal behavior should not
verbal and nonverbal behavior should not be used in isolation to determine
be used in isolation to determine
be used in isolation to determine someone’s credibility but perhaps could
someone’s credibility but perhaps could
someone’s credibility but perhaps could be used as a tool to identify topics
be used as a tool to identify topics
be used as a tool to identify topics that need to be probed and investigated
that need to be probed and investigated
that need to be probed and investigated further there is indeed no Pinocchio’s
further there is indeed no Pinocchio’s
further there is indeed no Pinocchio’s nose thank you
nose thank you
nose thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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