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Visuospatial counter‐interrogation strategies by liars familiar with the alibi setting
Author(s) -
Deeb Haneen,
Granhag Pär Anders,
Vrij Aldert,
Strömwall Leif A.,
Hope Lorraine,
Mann Samantha
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
applied cognitive psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.719
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1099-0720
pISSN - 0888-4080
DOI - 10.1002/acp.3383
Subject(s) - alibi , psychology , consistency (knowledge bases) , statement (logic) , deception , interrogation , social psychology , epistemology , philosophy , geometry , mathematics , archaeology , political science , law , history
Summary This study examines counter‐interrogation strategies employed by liars giving false alibis. Participants ( N = 144) visited a restaurant to buy a sandwich (truth‐tellers) or to use it as a false alibi (liars). Half of the liars were informed they might be asked for a drawing of the alibi setting if interviewed (informed liars). Participants spent either 10 min (high familiarity condition) or 30 s (low familiarity condition) in the restaurant. All participants were asked to provide two visuospatial statements, which were assessed for salient details, nonsalient details, between‐statement consistency, and statement‐alibi setting consistency. Informed liars provided significantly more salient and nonsalient details than uninformed liars and truth‐tellers, particularly in the high familiarity condition. No differences emerged for statement consistency types. The results suggest that liars are more concerned than truth‐tellers about making a positive impression on the interviewer, and they fail to accurately reflect on truth‐tellers' visuospatial statements.