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Are you for real? Exploring language use and unexpected process questions within the detection of identity deception
Author(s) -
Jupe Louise Marie,
Vrij Aldert,
Leal Sharon,
Nahari Galit
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.3446
Subject(s) - deception , psychology , identity (music) , cognition , lie detection , process (computing) , social psychology , cognitive load , outcome (game theory) , relation (database) , cognitive psychology , computer science , physics , mathematics , mathematical economics , database , neuroscience , acoustics , operating system
Summary The current study was to test whether reality monitoring and language use could distinguish identity liars from truth tellers when answering outcome questions and unexpected process questions. Truth tellers ( n = 30) and liars ( n = 30) discussed their identity in a recruitment interview. No differences emerged between truth tellers and liars in the details they provided. In terms of language use, liars used more positive language than truth tellers, whereas truth tellers used more cognitive process words than liars. However, neither were more pronounced when asking process questions. Overall, process questions elicited more cognitive process and cause words than outcome questions. Therefore, process questions may be able to contribute to the cognitive load approach. The findings suggest that reality monitoring may not be diagnostic when applied to identity deception. We discuss the language use differences in relation to impression management theory.