FBI and interrogation

Lie to Me is all about reading suspects to figure out who is lying. In the show, the facial movement and hand gestures are treated as though they are fool-proof and correct 100% of the time. It's not. Let's see what the FBI has to say about it:

"Investigations may focus on the wrong person because techniques do not distinguish between stressful responses caused by deception and responses to stress caused simply by accusatory interviewing. Behaviors improperly interpreted by investigators may take on the weight of perceived evidence and increase the intensity of the police focus."

That's from an article titled: "Criminal confessions: overcoming the challenges - interview and interrogation techniques." It appeared in the November 2002 issue of the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin.

Essentially, what that quote says is what we've been saying since Lie to Me first came into our lives - the clues that seem to show lying are actually showing stress. The stress could be the result of lying, or it could be the result of being in an uncomfortable situation.

How can you use this bit of wisdom? Easy, do not assume someone is lying because you spotted a "tell." Rather, assume there is something there that deserves a deeper look. Most of you are not cops or federal agents. Most of you use these skills in your personal life. So, please, when you see a "tell," just keep it to yourself and look deeper.

What you can do next.

Want to learn some really powerful techniques for reading people? Just follow this link: http://www.aboutpeople.com/Catalog/product_info.php?products_id=28

That will take you to our book Face Values. It is by far the easiest and most effective set of skills for reading people. What's more, you can learn these skills in a matter of minutes. Read the book and you'll be reading total strangers. You'll know their values, their personality type and their communication style.

-- Michael Lovas