Humans as lie detectors: Some more second thoughts

Humans lack the ability to detect deceptive communication when it is present. This review examined several explanations for this state of affairs. Twenty years of research in deception has shown that there is not a reliable set of nonverbal or verbal indicators of deceptive communication. Moreover, human lie detectors’ veracity judgments are often affected by cognitive biases and erroneous stereotypical information about how a prototypical liar should look. The current review also suggests that the inability to distinguish lies from truths may be a function of the decoding task presented to receivers in interpersonal communication. Receivers of deceptive communication must reject information they have already accepted, must draw inferences of another's underlying intent, and rarely receive any feedback with regard to their inferences. Additional factors that mediate lie detection accuracy are also reviewed. Finally, suggestions were made regarding how scholars should proceed with future research efforts in lie detection.

Key concepts:

• Lie detection
• deception
• lying
• detection accuracy
• nonverbal communication