In the realm of law enforcement, timing is critical. The faster a criminal is brought to justice, the safer the community becomes. A critical, yet often underutilized skill to bring about justice is reading verbal and non-verbal cues. These techniques provide law enforcement officers with a deeper understanding of suspects, witnesses, and victims (Sporer 2004), leading to quicker resolutions (Akehurst 2021) and reduce stress on law enforcement officers (Bakker 2017).

Body language constitutes a significant portion of human communication. While words can be manipulated, non-verbal cues are harder to control and often reveal true intentions and feelings (Ekman 1991). By helping law enforcement officers read these subtle signals and micro-expressions, law enforcement officers can significantly cut down the time spent on investigations (Akehurst 2021).

Consider an instance during an interrogation where a suspect might verbally deny any involvement in a crime. However, their body language such as eye contact, fidgeting, or displaying micro-expressions of fear or guilt, can tell a different story. Detecting these inconsistencies early allows officers to ask more directed questions, and obtain accurate information more quickly.

The six channel analysis system or SCAnS is a tool (EIA Group, 2015) police officers can leverage to detect deception quickly and accurately. Officers are not only able to able to listen to verbal cues, but simultaneously pay attention to facial expressions and other cues in order to reach the truth.

Fig1. The SCAnS or the Six Channel Analysis tool developed by Emotional Intelligence Academy (EIA) is a tool that helps detect inconsistencies by observing the points of interest (or PINS) that will be discussed

.The skill to read verbal and non-verbal cues goes hand in hand with effective interview techniques (Homs 2016). Skilled officers can use their knowledge of body language to establish rapport, making suspects more comfortable and likely to share information. Additionally, by recognizing signs of deceit, officers can adapt their questioning strategies in real-time, leading to more productive interviews.

For example, an officer trained in behavior and credibility analysis might notice that a suspect becomes tense when asked about their whereabouts during a crime (Ekman 1991). This reaction, as a part of a cluster of other indicators like changes in pitch of their voice or sudden pauses and moving their head back can serve as a guide for the interviewing officer to focus more closely on that time frame, potentially uncovering crucial evidence. A cluster is a reaction that displays 3 points of interest (PINs) across 2 or more channels (as indicated in the image above) within 7 seconds. Beyond seven seconds, an individual may become aware and attempt to control their emotional expressions (Lansley 2017) and are less likely to be associated with the trigger of behavioral reactions.

Accurate behavior analysis can also streamline the investigation process by helping to identify credible witnesses and reliable testimonies. In many cases, the sheer volume of information coming from individuals being questions can overwhelm investigators. By quickly discerning who is telling the truth and who might be withholding information, officers can allocate their resources more effectively, concentrating efforts on leads that are more likely to yield results.

From the perspective of law enforcement officers, the investigative process is fraught with challenges. The frustration of chasing false leads, the tedious nature of sifting through inconsistent testimonies, and the pressure of solving cases quickly is a web of complexities. Law enforcement officers are frequently faced with uncooperative suspects and witnesses who either lie or withhold critical information, may have personal bias against the law, or many other reasons that end up dragging out investigations and delaying justice.

Being equipped with the ability to read verbal and non-verbal behavioral cues can offer a solution to these frustrations. Officers who are adept at identifying these techniques can cut through the noise, identify deception faster, and focus their efforts on obtaining reliable information (Rojek 2019). This not only cuts down time of the investigative process but also reduces the stress and frustration experienced by officers (Bakker 2017).

An example is the video of Chris Watts who murdered his pregnant wife and two daughters on August 13, 2018, prior to the investigation. Small intermittent clips are taken to depict the effectiveness of the 3-2-7 formula in interviewing. The 3-2-7 formula is an observation of 3 points of interest (the verbal and non-verbal behavioral cues) across 2 channels (See Fig. 1) within 7 seconds.

Chris Watts explained his missing family and his desire for them to come home quickly, but his body language and words show otherwise.

Upon the establishment of a baseline of the interviewee’s behavior, the general assumption an investigator can begin with is that Chris Watts is not guilty. It helps support a less oppressive interaction and can help us get to the truth. Therefore, the feelings he must experience are sadness, anger, grief and anxiety that accompany a person when their family has gone missing. The absence of these however is not evidence of deception as many things can explain the absence, for instance shock, drugs, perhaps being overwhelmed in front of a camera or being interviewed in public. However, there are a few observations in the video that warrant further exploration.

The folded arms and the constant swaying throughout the video need more consideration as they may indicate anxiety being in front of a camera, possible defensiveness, or possibly this could be a habit and be established as baseline behavior. In any case, the interviewer would need to focus into the conversation to extract the truth.

Another interesting aspect of the video that needs further exploration was the micro expression of disgust on Chris Watts’ face when he rephrased the argument (between him and his wife) as an ‘emotional conversation.’ This may indicate rift in the marriage. But the expression of disgust needs further exploration with regard to it being directed to the interviewer, or towards himself for murdering his family, or his wife. Yet another giveaway part of the cluster is that his headshake is contradicting his statement, and therefore needs further exploration.

Chris Watts pre-empts by remarking, “I’ll leave it at that.’ There are possible signs of avoidance in this cluster. Coupling with signs of contempt may indicate of hiding something or that he is scared of the worst outcome, or he may not be ready to deal with the issue.

When Chris Watts says, “Shannan, Bella, Celest… if you are out there,” is also a cluster that warrants diving into a little. His use of the word ‘IF’ demands clarification. It could imply that he has prior knowledge that they are not out there anymore or may indicate he might not believe what he is saying. His statement about asking the family to come back yet shaking his head at the same time might indicate he may know the family won’t be back.

His final statement ‘I need to see everybody… I need to see everybody again. This house is not complete without everybody here. Please bring them back’ requires further investigation as his lips tightening shows his personal and social awareness that might be a suggestion that he is controlling his speech.

Incorporating the reading of verbal and non-verbal cues into police work is not just an additional tool, it's a transformative approach that can revolutionize law enforcement efficiency. By understanding the unspoken language of human behavior, officers can accelerate investigations, secure convictions faster, and ultimately create safer communities. Investing in training is an investment in justice, making communities safer, easing the frustrations and challenges faced by police officers and victims alike.

We at Veritas Insight offer not just state of the art research, but also field-tested techniques that complement your expertise as an officer of the law or an investigator and increase your impact positively on the society - visit veritasinsight.org to get in touch for further information.

References

Akehurst, L., & Maras, K. (2021). ‘Detecting deception in high-stakes situations: The role of verbal and non-verbal communication’, Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 36(1), pp. 1-12.

Archer, D. and Lansley, C. (2015) ‘Public appeals, news interviews and crocodile tears: An argument for multi-channel analysis’, Corpora, 10(2), pp. 231–258.

Bakker, A.B. & Demerouti, E. (2017). ‘Job demands-resources theory: Challenges and future directions’, Journal of Managerial Psychology, 22(3), pp. 307-328.

EIA Group (2015) - https://www.eiagroup.com/white-paper/scans-six-channel-analysis-system/ (accessed 13 September 2024).

Ekman, P. and O’Sullivan, M., 1991. Clues to Deceit: A Body Language Guide for Detecting Lies. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

Ekman, P. and O’Sullivan, M., 1991. The role of non-verbal communication in the detection of deception. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(5), pp. 768-779.

Farnsworth, B. (2024) Facial action coding system (FACS) - A visual guidebook, iMotions. Available at: https://imotions.com/blog/learning/research-fundamentals/facial-action-coding-system/ (Accessed: 02 November 2024).

Givens, D.B., 2005. The Nonverbal Dictionary of Gestures, Signs, and Body Language Cues. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press.

Homs, A., 2016. The Art of Interviewing: Techniques for Law Enforcement. New York: Springer.

Hoppough, T. (2018) RAW: Chris Watts, husband of missing Frederick woman, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugoYkx04E2Q (Accessed: 07 November 2024).

Lansley, C. 2017. Getting to the truth: A practical, scientific approach to behavior analysis for professionals. Sevenoaks, UK: Emotional Intelligence Academy.

Mann, S., Vrij, A. and Bull, R., 2004. Detecting Deception: Current Challenges and Cognitive Approaches. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 8(1), pp.14-20.

Rojek, C., 2019. The challenges of law enforcement investigations: An analysis of the investigative process. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

SCANSTM - six channel analysis system (2022) EIA Group. Available at: https://www.eiagroup.com/white-paper/scans-six-channel-analysis-system/ (Accessed: 16 October 2024).

Sporer, S.L. (2004). ‘The role of nonverbal cues in detecting deception: A meta-analytic review’, Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 28(4), pp. 211-225.

Vrij, A., 2008. Detecting Lies and Deceit: The Psychology of Lying and the Implications for Professional Practice. 2nd ed. Chichester: Wiley.

Clustering Verbal and Non-Verbal Signals Facilitates Quicker and More Accurate Convictions

Follow Us