Discovering The Truth
Throughout our personal and business lives we are exposed to deception. Here are a few pointers in getting to the truth.
To tell a lie requires cognitive effort and over-control of behaviours. The physiological changes that emerge and that the deceptor tries to quell are:
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Breath rate
- Pitch and speed of voice
- Blood circulation and temperature
- Muscular freezing/twitching
- Facial expressions
- Blinking, closing of eyes and pupil size
- Sweating
These can also be attributed to nervousness and stress, so how to tell the difference.
The alternate version of the truth being told is generally thought out at the surface level but can unravel as it is drilled into. The physiological changes as the questioning is deepened can point you to unravelling the deception.
Stage 1 – Seek an explanation and description of the event
Stage 2 – Encourage the account to be expanded….anything else?
Stage 3 – Emotional questioning – how did you feel at the time, what was going through your mind
Stage 4 – Probe various sub-sets of the event
Stage 5 – Play it back – let me see if I understand you
Stage 6 – Specific questioning on weak areas of the story
What questions do you have?
We are happy to help. Please post your comment below or call Paul Leonard, Partner at Cooney Carey, on 01 677 9000. Alternatively, send him an email: pleonard@cooneycarey.ie