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Signs of Deception 107

Symptoms of deception    Examples                                                   Significance
CONSCIOUS, unconscious                                                              10 = High
or both                                                                             0 = Low

Discontinuity words and  ‘Later on’, ‘The next thing we did’, ‘Subsequently’, ‘We   8
phrases                  began to discuss’
                         Indicates that important information has been
                         omitted before the discontinuity word

Unopened or unclosed actions ‘I then left the office’ (without explaining when he    8
                                          entered it)

Inconsistent and missing detail Different levels of detail between control and      8
                                          relevant questions

EVASION AND DEFLECTION   ‘I have made small mistakes … I will admit that’           10
DIVERSIONARY             Long rambling answers which are off the point
ADMISSIONS               ‘Before I answer that, I want to tell you about …’
RAMBLING ANSWERS

LIMITED ANSWERS          ‘Basically …’                                              8
                         ‘As a rule …’

ADMITTING ONLY WHAT      And changing his explanation in response to                10
CAN BE PROVEN            enticement questions (see page 212)

FOCUSING ON NON-ISSUES   Using ambiguous words and phrases (see also                7
                         ‘subjective truths’)
                         Admitting only what is provable
                         Focusing on non-issues and elevating their
                         importance

GENERALIZATIONS          In answer to the question ‘What did you do last            8
                         Friday?’ the suspect responds, ‘I usually go to the club
                         on Fridays’

REHEARSED ANSWERS AND    ‘I could not have done it (1) because I did not have keys  10
FOCUSING ON NON-ISSUES   to the office (2) because my car had broken down (3)
                         because I am not that sort of person (4) etc …’
                         Listing of this nature indicates the answer has been
                         rehearsed

CONTRIVED ANGER          An honest person may become genuinely angry at             8
                         suggestions that he has done something wrong. A
                         guilty person’s anger is usually contrived and short
                         term
                         ‘Are you accusing me?’
                         ‘That is a stupid question …’
                         ‘I will not dignify that question with an answer …’

LEGITIMIZATION           ‘I would like to answer that, but it is a state secret’    10
                         ‘It is not company policy to disclose this stuff’
                         ‘I cannot answer because of the Data Protection Act’

FALSE PROMISES           ‘I will get the papers for you next week’                  7
                         ‘I have to see my accountant first’
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