Introduction Rules of engagement - Be observant - Takes effort - Cluster rule - 2 or more indicators within 5 seconds of stimulus - Universal body language - Donʼt over analyze - Understand what is normal for that situation - Individual body language - Idiosyncratic movements - Traits - Baseline - Look for how subject deals with stimulus - Set easy responses - Sudden changes - Voice - Movement/ Cessation of movement - Pace - Color of face - Unnatural/ False body language - Used by the uncomfortable - Can be very deceptive - Subtle - Positive vs Negative - Gravity as an indicator - First read - Look for hand movement - Be subtle - Donʼt stare! Phase one: Basic Body Language Interpretation Section 1: The Lower body - The Freeze response - The initial response to a threat - different than pausing - Happy feet - Not to be confused with nervousness - shuffling - Feet as an anchor point 1
- Key indicator in level of comfort/confidence - Look for movement - hiding - Directional cues - Feet point toward where we want to go - One or both - Knee clasp - look for correlating torso lean - indicates preparing to depart - could indicate interest - Toe point - high confidence display - both sitting and standing - Running man - combines with knee clasp - Legs together (seated) - unnatural for males - normal for females - Feet wide apart (standing) - dominant pose - can be construed as rude - territorial - Legs crossed (standing) - balance indicator - comfort/confidence - Orientation reflex - easy read - reflexive movement toward what we want - Knee barriers (seated) - knee placement indicates comfort with other person - Walking style - hurried - lackadaisical - Foot jiggling (seated) - look for change - usually initially indicates confidence if pace is moderate - accelerated pace indicates a level of discomfort/nervousness Section 2: Hands and arms - Arms Akimbo - four fingers in front is an authoritative pose - less authoritative if thumbs in front - The Cobra (seated) - high confidence level - very relaxed - Territorial displays 2
- Spreading arms out across table - accompanied with a lean in - Donʼt hide hands - shows lack of confidence - accompanied by lack of natural movement - Donʼt point fingers - aggressive impression - use open hand - Thigh rub - sign of distress - usually seated - wiping sweat from palms - The royal stance - indicates desire to not be approached - denying the hand for handshake - stand off ish - Preening - pacifying behavior - allows subject to appear disinterested - nervous/discomfort indicator - Hands as an anchor point - look for movement - grasping/clasping - Hand steepling - high confidence display - Hand wringing - low confidence/comfort display - Covering mouth/face - natural response to threat - hand may not go all the way up to mouth - putting pens, etc. in mouth - can occur after verbal mistake - Thumb displays - thumbs should be visible - high confidence/comfort when visible - lacking confidence when not visible - Framing (standing) - high confidence pose - can be disrespectful - Frozen hands - sudden response - compare vs baseline - hands will disappear with next movement - Finger stroking - lack of confidence - starts to show insecurity 3
- Palm rubbing - discomfort - nervousness - Neck touching - look for hands to spend time near or touching the neck - Hiding mouth and eyes - associated with blocking out (eyes) - strong reaction to stimulus - Neck dimple (supra sternal notch) - females will touch or cover in times of stress - Micro Gestures - small, quick directional cues of the hands - Timing of gestures - insincere emotional gestures do not match timing of words - will usually dissipate emotional cues too quickly Section 3: Torso and Shoulders - The lean - indicates closeness or distancing - Directional cues (orientation reflex) - movement toward what we want - Ventral access/denial - strong indicator of trust - look for blading - Sudden shielding of the torso - in response to threat - arms crossed, hands grasping arms - Manipulation of clothing - subconscious ventral denial - nervousness - Bowing - rare in US - strong show of respect - Preening - picking at clothes - indicates nervousness - will lead to stall tactics in questioning - Chest puffing - dominance display - Increased breathing rate - in response to threat, subject is oxygenating - Weak or asymmetrical shrugs - shoulders should rise sharply - one side or both shrug weakly - indicates lack of confidence 4
- Pleading gestures - palms up - toward questioner - Drooped vs high shoulders - instant read Section 4: Face, Head and Neck - Blushing vs blanching - change in color in response to stimulus - Pursing lips - powerful read - Flaring nostrils - beginning of anger - oxygenating - Narrowing eyes - anger response - negative - look for escalation - Dilated pupils - difficult read - dilation toward desirable object - The eye dart - powerful display of nervousness - will precede other indicators - eye block - closing of the eyes - blink rate - strong read - blink rate accelerates when stressed - Visual Access Cues - right handed vs left handed - can be indicator of deception - Duping delight - look for smiling at inappropriate time - in response to topic - uncontrollable in some - hiding truth behind smile - The jaw clinch - stress or anger - The head tilt - every direction 5
- to the side is positive reaction - backwards indicates doubt or further thought (look for eye direction) - down indicates doubt - Neck exposure - positive reaction - indicates trust - Hard swallow - negative reaction - throat dries up when stressed - Clearing throat - can be similar to hard swallow - also used as delay tactic Phase two: Basic word choice analysis Section 1: Lies defined - An intent to deceive - Stakes are high - Differs from a mistake or greeting - Lie of commission - Lie of omission - Lie of influence - The oath Section 2: Learn to not infer - We can only interpret what they say or write. - Do not add or subtract - Every word has a meaning to each person - Personal language - Truth comes from memory - Lying is difficult - People only tell us what they think is important what they want us to know Section 3: The liarʼs tactics - Attempt to manage our perception - Convince vs Coney - Truthful/irrefutable statements - Convincing statements - False politeness - Inappropriate concern - Aggression - Designed to get you to back off - Strong indicator - Wordiness - Shortest statement is best - Remove unnecessary words 6
- Denial problems - Did they offer a specific denial - look for qualifiers - Failure to answer - Similar to denial problems - Deflection - Qualifiers - Perception - Honestly - Frankly - To tell you the truth - Really - Of course - Certainly - Exclusion - Basically - Actually - For the most part - Essentially - Typically - Delay tactics - Repeating the question - Iʼm glad you asked that - Behavioral pause - Verbal pause - Referral statements - As I said before - Like I told the last guy - Iʼll say it again - I would never - I had nothing to do with... - I swear to God - Playing dumb - Non answers - 3 - Non contracted verb tense - Unusual question - Accidental admissions - Complaints - Failure to recall Section 4: Written problems - Use of pronouns/ proper pronouns - word count- 25%-50%-25% - Timeline 7
- Words that span time - Order is important - Matching pronouns - Present tense alarm - This, That, with vs and - Inconsistency - Overly specific/vague - Softening - Passive language Phase three: Micro Expressions Introduction Section 1: Definitions - Micro vs Normal expression Section 2: The seven basic emotions - Anger - Look for pursed lips - Brow collapse - Eyes light up - Sad - Eyebrows pull together and up - Slight frown - Pout - Joy - Easiest to recognize - Real smile is in the eyes - Flat smiles are fake - Contempt - Asymmetrical movement - Dangerous emotion - Corner of lip purses to one side - Surprise - Eyebrows go up - Mouth can drop and make an o. - Look for accompanying body language - Fear - Looks similar to surprise - Upper eye lids disappear - Mouth can draw tight - Disgust - Crinkling of nose - Raising of lips through center of face 8