Verbal Cues Fostering Perceptions of Credibility and Truth/Lie Detection

This chapter overviews existing guidance and research on verbal cues to credibility assessment and truth/lies detection as well as presenting a new study. Official guidance is now emphasizing the use of verbal indices rather than a focus on nonverbal behavior. However, interactions with liars/truth-tellers need to be conducted in ways that maximize the opportunity to obtain from them verbal output. A method of doing this (known as the PEACE approach) is described, which is based on psychological research. Furthermore, a recent comprehensive review commissioned by the United Nations advocates that interviews with suspected persons be conducted in line with the PEACE model which was developed in England and Wales that is being utilized in a growing number of countries.