It Is Not What We Say, But How We Say It

Analysis of statements has played an important part in criminal investigations. However, new insights have shown that deceivers can now be identified by how they say things and not just by what they say.

The art of deception is an integral part of survival and has formed part of the natural selection process for a few million years. It has proved so successful that deception, either to advance our own interest or to avoid punishment, now forms part of everyday communication.

Nature, however, contains its own checks and balances. Just as natural selection produces deceivers, it also produces deception detectors.