Nonverbal cues (original) (raw)

Nonverbal cues to deception refer to unique motor behaviors that occur when lying, but are absent or present to a lesser degree when truth-telling. Nonverbal cues also include vocal behaviors separate from the content of the speech, such as vocal pitch. It is thought these cues are connected to underlying the cognitive and emotional demands of deception and so unintentionally reveal a liar's true beliefs. These cues may also, or instead, reflect the strategies that liars employ in an attempt to appear convincing. Whether unwitting or strategic, these behaviors vary depending on characteristics of the situation and of the individual. Consideration will be given to each of these topics, exploring how the cognitive and emotional elements of deception elicit nonverbal cues to their deceit, the individual and situational differences that modulate the cues to deceit and the benefits of using nonverbal cues.