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226 Deception at Work

Table 7.1 Question types and interview phases

The types of questions Types of questions
that are most applicable Transactional role (see page [xref])
to the following phases
General Testing Accusatory Empathetic
A: Opening
B: Probing Probing Increasing
C: Raising anxiety anxiety
D: The pivotal point
E: Turning Introductory Possible No Possible Possible
F: The deep truth Statements Adult Adult Adult
Yes Yes
G: Follow-up Variable Yes Critical Yes No
Critical parent Critical parent
parent

No No Yes Yes
Critical and Nurturing
nurturing parent parent

Yes Yes Possibly
Nurturing Nurturing Adult or critical
parent parent or parent
adult

Possible Yes Possible
Adult Adult Adult

Relevant questions relate specifically to the matter in issue and will either require to suspect:

• to make an admission or confession; or
• to tell a lie.

Relevant questions thus stimulate an anxious response, usually within three to five millisec-
onds of being asked. Often the differences in responses to control and relevant questions – or
‘response latency’ – are glaringly obvious.

THE OJ SIMPSON CASE from the Internet (simpson.walraven.com).
Detailed analysis reveals some very
OJ Simpson was interviewed by two Los interesting patterns (Table 7.2).
Angeles detectives the day after his wife was
found butchered. The full transcript of this
very poor interview can be downloaded

Incongruence between the responses to control and relevant questions are vital clues

Obviously, patterns such as those described in Table 7.2 are not proof positive of either
guilt or innocence, but you should always consciously monitor the differences between the
subject’s response to control and relevant questions and incongruencies between content,
syntax, paralinguistics, body language and attitude. This is the easy part, leaving you with
the more difficult job of resolving your suspicions.