Page 340 - Deception at work all chapters EBook

CHAPTER

8 Dealing With Deception in
Writing

An oral statement isn’t worth the paper it’s written on

Background

Both achievement and exculpatory lies can be conveyed in written ‘stories’ which may be
freestyle or guided. In freestyle the writer has total control over the topics he chooses to in-
clude and the words selected. Stories may also be guided by a template, based on legal advice
or determined by specific questions:

Table 8.1 Lies in written stories

Type Achievement or exculpatory or both

Historic (past events) Future (events)

Free style Correspondence Correspondence

CVs Offer documents

Statements and affidavits Proposals

Structured Depositions Marriage proposals

Reports and surveys Forecasts

Statements Business plans

Insurance claims Application forms

Accident reports Business proposals

Freestyle stories are usually the most revealing, but the rules for detecting deception can
also be applied to guided stories, especially interview transcripts.

The nature and purpose of the story both have a bearing on the nature and number of
clues that can be expected usually depending on the degree of jeopardy – and thus anxiety
– involved if deception is detected. Also whether the writer is recalling something from the
past or is making promises about his future intentions affects his anxiety levels and thus the
structure, content, syntax and other clues in the story.

Lies about intended future performance are usually less stressful, because someone else can
be blamed