EVERYDAY CSI
Clues, Signs, and Interviewing
Are you a people watcher?
People watching or crowd watching is the act of observing people and their interactions, usually without
their knowledge. It involves picking up on idiosyncrasies to try to guess another person's story. This
includes speech in action, relationship interactions, body language, expressions, clothing and
activities. Eavesdropping may accompany the activity, though is not required. For some people it is
considered a hobby, but for many others it is a subconscious activity they partake in everyday
without even realizing.
Uses
People watching can be insightful and informative for authors when writing a book or actors when
performing a play. Watching how other people walk, talk and interact with each other can be used as
inspiration for their characters. It can also inspire other artistic works such as artwork and
photography, or lead to writing a symphony, movie script or blog post. For others, people watching is
a fun and relaxing activity.
Naturalistic observation
Naturalistic observation is used for scientific purposes. It uses the same techniques as people
watching. The key is to not let anyone know that you are observing him or her. People are in their
natural environment, so there is no pressure for them to behave a certain way, as they would feel if
they knew they were being studied. Scientists often are fond of this method because people are
acting naturally and not acting how they are expected to act.
Definitions
Body language, the unconscious and conscious transmission and interpretation of feelings, attitudes,
and moods, through: body posture, movement, physical state, position and relationship to other
bodies, objects and surroundings, facial expression and eye movement, (and this transmission and
interpretation can be quite different to the spoken words).
kinesics [ki-nee-siks, -ziks] noun, ( used with a singular verb)
the study of body movements, gestures, facial expressions, such as winking, shrugging etc., as a means
of communication.
proxemics [prok-see-miks] noun, ( used with a singular verb)
1. Sociology, Psychology. the study of the spatial requirements of humans and animals and the effects of
population density on behavior, communication, and social interaction.
2. Linguistics. the study of the symbolic and communicative role in a culture of spatial arrangements and
variations in distance, as in how far apart individuals engaged in conversation stand depending on
the degree of intimacy between them.
haptics [hap-tiks] noun, ( used with a singular verb)
the branch of psychology that investigates sensory data and sensation derived from the sense of touch
and localized on the skin.
Our bodies have a language of their own, and
their words aren’t always kind
AVOIDING EYE CONTACT
When you don’t look someone in the eyes, it
can signal deception or a lack of respect
SLOUCHING
Bad posture signals to others that you lack
confidence and have poor self esteem
or low energy levels
A WEAK HANDSHAKE
A handshake that isn’t firm will signal a lack of
authority. One that is too firm could make you
seem overly aggressive
FOLDING ARMS
This stance creates a sense of being closed off and
may signal to others that you are disinterested in
them or don’t buy into their message
Looking Down
When you look down while making a point, it loses all
of its power and can may you look weak. In everyday
interactions, it can make you look uncomfortable or
self-conscious
Angling Body Away From Others
Too much physical distance, angling the body away
from the person you’re speaking with or not leaning
into a conversation shows that you are uncomfortable,
distrustful or disinterested in the subject
Fidgeting And Touching Hair
Fidgeting and playing with hair or clothes can reveal
an excess of energy, which signals discomfort or
anxiety
Invading Others’ Space
When you are closer than 1.5 feet away from a
colleague or you treat their possessions and office
space as if it were your own, it signals disrespect and
that you don’t have a clear understanding of personal
boundaries
Glancing-At-The-Clock
Glancing At The Clock or at your watch or even
looking past a person who you’re speaking with
will communicate disinterest or arrogance
Frowning Or Scowling
Scowls and frowns, often unintentional and
unconscious, communicate unhappiness and
disagreement
The Interview
The Purpose of the Interview in Housing
From the Perspective of the Housing Authority:
1. Enlist the participation and cooperation of the client in the Housing
Authority’s process.
2. Enhance the client’s understanding of the Housing Authority’s policies
and procedures.
3. To secure the information which the Housing Authority needs to
determine initial and on-going eligibility.
4. Further the understanding of the rights and obligations of the client in
the Housing Authority’s process.
5. Supplement the Housing Authority’s other means of communication with
the client.
From the Perspective of the client, the Interview Provides an
Opportunity to:
1. Present his/her information in his/her own words.
2. To clarify questions the client may have about eligibility
requirements, policies and procedures.
3. Gain an understanding of the housing programs, the
benefits and expectations of the client in meeting
program requirements.
4. Further the understanding of the rights and obligations of
the Housing Authority in the eligibility process.
WAYS TO ESTABLISH RAPPORT
Establishing a baseline…
1. Going to the waiting room, introducing yourself when necessary, greeting the
client politely and escorting him/her to the office.
2. By addressing the client by title: Mr. Ms., Mrs., Miss.
3. By showing them where to hang their wraps, offering them a chair.
4. By asking them how to pronounce their name.
5. Smiling.
6. Asking them if there are any corrections to their application form.
7. Eye contact.
8. Above all, the general rules of courtesy.
Questions
Good, Bad, & Questionable
The Use of Questions
1. To obtain specifically needed information
2. To lead the client’s flow of thought from the
meaningless to pertinent material
3. To check your understanding of what the
client has just said, to clarify
Evolution of the study of body language
The first known experts to consider aspects of body language were probably the ancient Greeks,
notably Hippocrates and Aristotle, through their interest in human personality and behavior,
and the Romans, notably Cicero, relating gestures to feelings and communications.
Isolated studies of body language appeared in more recent times, for example Francis Bacon in
Advancement of Learning, 1605, explored gestures as reflection or extension of spoken
communications. John Bulwer's Natural History of the Hand published in 1644, considered hand
gestures. Gilbert Austin's Chironomia in 1806 looked at using gestures to improve speechmaking.
Scientific research on non-verbal communication & behavior began with the 1872 publication of
Charles Darwin’s The Expression of Emotions in Man & animals.
In his popular 1971 book 'Body Language', Julius Fast (1919-2008) wrote: "...kinesics is still so
new as a science that its authorities can be counted on the fingers of one hand..."
What about you?
• Because you work in the Human Services
Field, you are required to “read” people.
• You could compare reading body language to
watching your favorite TV show. You would
not watch just one scene. You would watch
the entire episode to get the meaning of the
one scene. Additionally, you would have the
history of the past shows to draw from. In
other words, you would have the BIG picture.
You need this when it comes to reading Body
Language!
Non-verbal Clues
As I mentioned before, body language is displayed
from head to toe.
Use non-verbal communication (body language)
to SOFTEN the hard-line position of others
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S = Smile
O = Open Posture
F = Forward Lean
T = Touch
E = Eye Contact
N = Nod
Open Body Language
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Open body language can also be called positive body language.
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Leaning forward toward the person and pointing the body toward the other
person indicates positive body language and increases verbal output. Some people
call pointing the body away from the questioner “Navel Intelligence”.
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Nodding the head affirmatively, briefly, and now and then, during the
conversation, increases the speech duration of the speaker and provides positive
reinforcement to the speaker.
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Opening the arms and relaxing the legs are also signs of open body language.
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Mirroring the movements of the other person can help the person feel more
friendly and “on the same wave length” as the person mimicking the movements.
7 Universal Facial Expressions
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Happy
Sad
Surprised
Fearful
Angry
Disgusted
• Contempt
About The Eyes
• Eye contact is the primary way people
communicate dominance. People who want to
dominate will stare at and survey others while
making direct eye contact. They will also be the
last person to break eye contact.
• When people encounter people or things they
like, the rate of blinking increases & pupils dilate.
Direction
What does the direction that someone’s looking in tell us about what
they're thinking or feeling? Well, probably just what they're looking at.
Maybe you’ve heard this before...
Eyes to the right liar.
Eyes to the left are truthful
The thing to look out for is the direction someone's eyes are looking in
when they're thinking. Looking to their left indicates that they're
reminiscing or trying to remember something. On the other hand, looking
to their right indicates more creative thoughts, and this is often
interpreted as a potential sign that someone may be being deceitful in
some situations, i.e. creating a version of events.
Note: if a person is left handed, the direction indicators may be reversed.
The “Eyes” Have It
Signal
looking right (generally)
Part of Body
eyes
Possible Meaning
creating, guessing, fabricating, lying, storytelling
looking left (generally)
eyes
recalling, remembering, retrieving 'facts'
looking right sideways
eyes
imagining sounds
looking right and up
eyes
visual imagining, fabrication, lying
looking right down
eyes
accessing feelings
looking left and up
eyes
recalling images, truthfulness
looking left sideways
eyes
recalling or remembering sounds
looking left down
eyes
self-talking, rationalizing
direct eye contact(when speaking)
eyes
honesty - or faked honesty
direct eye contact(when listening)
eyes
attentiveness, interest, attraction
Leg & Foot Actions
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Leg & foot movements can display a “wish to be gone”
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People tend to focus on face & hands. The legs are often forgotten even though they are
the part of the body a deceptive person has the least amount of control.
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Try sitting face to face without anything between you and the person you are
interviewing. You will be amazed at what you see.
Dominance and The Rest of the Body
Splaying - is a territorial display of the body to show disrespect or indifference toward
someone. It is when a person spreads out and makes the body very large.
The Dominant handshake -When a person extends a hand with the palm facing
downwards. That gesture forces the other person to shake with the palm facing upward,
submissive position.
Guiding – when a host places his hand on the person’s back between the shoulder blade
& presses lightly in the right direction.
Seat straddling – This method involves the person sitting so the back of the chair acts as
an arm rest. It allows the person to feel protected from the group by the back of the
chair and enables the person to take a dominant role or attitude in the group
conversation.
What do you see?
Verbal Clues
Verbal clues are more reliable than non-verbal
This is especially true when you remember to look
for deviation from the baseline speech you have
observed.
Detection of verbal clues is especially important
when conducting phone interviews.
Types of Verbal Clues
Speech stumbles
Increased pauses
Use of “filler words” like “umm”, “ahh” & “uh
huh”, before responding to a question
Stalling for time by answering a question with a
question
Asking the speaker to repeat the question
Beginning the answer with the word “well”
A “Footnote”
Feet & Legs are the most honest part of the body.
They are the furthest away from the brain & consequently they are one of the hardest parts of
the body to consciously control.
Happy Feet are those feet getting something of value from another person. They wiggle &/or
bounce for joy.
Remember, you need to look at the person’s foot behavior & then watch for any sudden
or even not so sudden changes.
While most people look for the telltale signs by looking into the eyes, when in an interview,
look for signs their feet are giving you.
When a person turns his feet away, it usually means disengagement,
a desire to distance himself.
If a person turns their torso AND their feet to admit you, then the welcome
is genuine.
A study of courtroom behavior revealed jurors turn their feet toward a door such
as an exit or hallway when they don’t like a witness. They do this while politely
facing the witness who is speaking.
HAPPY FEET?
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If you are speaking to a client and they suddenly or even gradually move their feet away from
you, you need to process this information. You need to determine why the shift has occurred.
It may be they are late for another appointment or maybe they just don’t like what you are
talking about or questioning them about.
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There are other examples of intentional movements that signal the person wants to leave.
Holding on to their knees with both hands, shifting their weight as they are seated, are other
signs the person wants to leave.
What do you see?
No man has a good enough memory to make a
successful liar – Abraham Lincoln
Detecting Deception
All of us want to know the truth. We all depend on honesty. When we say we tell
or hear lies daily, they are “white lies” meant to protect us… for example: Do I
look fat in this outfit? In fact, some research suggests we are lied to 20-200 times
a day!
There is no man, machine, no test, or method that can detect with 100% accuracy
the “LIE”. Even polygraph machines are only between 60-80% accurate.
That is why you must look for clusters of behaviors when observing a person’s
body language.
Practice makes perfect
keep observing and let the person’s body language “speak to you” so you can
better understand what they are thinking, feeling, or intending. Their body
language will give you the clues you need to make determinations as to their
deception or lack of deception.
Did You Know?
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ASK FOR THE TRUTH UP FRONT. STUDIES SHOW 50-80% INCREASE IN TELLING THE TRUTH
WHEN YOU ASK!
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Shoulder shrugs - where only one shoulder comes up or if the shoulders rise nearly to the ears
& the person’s head seems to disappear, can indicate the person is about to answer a question
deceptively.
When a person is lying, mistakes that can reveal his deception are likely to be found in Nonverbal behavior.
Vocal quality is the least reliable indicator of deception.
A deceptive person will repeat the entire question you just asked in full. The person is trying
to gain time to develop his answer!
Use of strict chronological order to tell a story can signal a made-up story. Try having the
person tell the story in reverse order. Liars keep the details of their stories straight by keeping
to the chronological order.
Deceptive people engage in more eye contact than the average person because they need to
sell their story. Their rate of blinking also increases.
When a person uses the phrase “to be honest…” It may suggest he is lying or omitting
something.
When trying to discover what motivated a person to do something, be non- confrontational.
Asking “why” may make the person defensive. Asking “what made them do what they did”
removes the pressure to answer truthfully.
A detailed prologue is likely to be found in a deceptive story. A person who is lying will pad a
story with meaningless details that precede the main event. The introductory details will often
be true.
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Did You Know (Continued)
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Someone telling a true story is more likely to skip around. They recall emotions. Liars
do not feel the real emotions as they spin their concocted stories.
Women are generally believed to be better at recognizing and reading body language.
When someone tells a truthful story, he is likely to include details around the main
event.
People who use gestures in telling their story are likely telling the truth.
Someone telling a true story is likely to add an epilogue that summarizes the story.
When men lie, they tend to rub the eye vigorously while looking at the floor if telling a
whopper. Women tend to gently massage the skin under the eye & look toward the
ceiling.
Rubbing the ear & pulling on the earlobe are an adult’s equivalent of a child covering
both ears to avoid being scolded for telling a lie.
Rubbing or scratching the neck or pulling on the collar are self-soothing actions that
people perform when not telling the truth or keeping something back.
As a rule, people are best at reading facial expressions, then body language, and finally,
personal space & touch
• A person asserting dominance will refrain from smiling to communicate
seriousness & may instead frown or purse his lips.
5 Basic Steps to get to the truth
One interview method to get to the truth in interviewing uses a 5 step method:
The five steps are:
1) Baseline behavior
2) Ask open-ended questions
3) Study the clusters
4) Intuit the gaps (understand gaps)
5) Confirm
Step 1
You need to determine a baseline behavior in a relatively short amount of time when interviewing. A baseline gives
you a starting point, a reference point or a standard from which you can measure changes in their behavior. A little
small talk never hurts.
What does their laugh sound like?
How fast, how loud, how do they sound when they usually speak?
What is their posture usually like?
How often does the person gesture?
How often do they fidget? wave hands? cross feet?
How does their face and posture change when they are discussing something sad, exciting or infuriating?
How do they act when relaxed?
5 Basic Steps (continued)
Step 2
Asking open ended questions encourages people to give you an expanded answer. They also allow you
to keep what you know to yourself. Responding to a question by repeating it in full is a tactic used by
people to delay and allow the person to construct a deceptive answer. When a person wants to make
sure he heard it correctly, he will usually repeat only part of the question.
Establish what you know and what you want to know. Make a list of the facts (evidence) you need for the
particular subject you are working on. Remember you want to know the who, what , when and where.
Develop rapport. Realize that as an active listener, you will obtain information easier. Maintain eye
contact. Mirror the person’s body language and pace of his speech. Sit in an open-armed non–threatening
position and avoid arguments. Don’t ask why...instead ask what made you do that or what prevented you
from doing that?
Step 3
Study the clusters of facial, behavioral, and verbal clues. Together they give you a better idea of the
person’s thought process, their state of mind. There are non-verbal clues, such as; grooming gestures,
hand wringing, biting of the lips, slumped, self-protective posture, moving objects around the floor,
inward curled feet, expression of relief after the interview, excessive sweating, fake smile, closed eyes
are some examples.
Some verbal clusters are; qualifying statements such as “As far as I know...To tell the truth...”, Repeating
your question entirely word for word, verbatim; not responding spontaneously; dodging the question,
short answers, swearing on the Bible; objections to irrelevant specifics, whining; asking how long is this
going to take? Uncooperative attitude or dismissive attitude, and more about persuading you then on the
facts.
Look for groups of these suspicious behaviors.
5 Basic Steps (continued)
Step 4
Intuit the gaps understand or get a sense of gaps. Gaps in behavior, statements, logic and
emotional gaps are important to watch out for if you suspect a person is deceiving you. Don’t
ignore your gut! If something does not add up, it usually means there is a problem or good
reason. Take a closer look at the difference between what you know to be true and what
someone is telling you
Step5
You need to confirm your conclusions. We’re not out to get to a “gotcha” moment. You may never know
the whole story about the matter you’re investigating but you can ask some questions that allow you to
test your hunches. Ask the person to recall details of the story backwards. A guilty person will have a
hard time telling their story in reverse order. Sometimes, they will tell something they have withheld
previously. Let the person know you are aware of some information he has not given you. If he corrects
you, he probably is telling the truth.
Ask as many questions as it takes for you to be certain you are correct in your analysis of the situation.
Information for you
I have a couple of handouts for you on Arabic and
Russian culture body language.
I have also included an interesting article from
Yahoo News in which they are discussing the
James Holmes’ courtroom behavior. It is an
example of how modern American culture is
consistently studying body language in many
different forums. I think you may find it
fascinating as I did.
There is a lot more to body Language
• In preparing for this session, I have discovered there is far too
much to know and discuss in an hour-and-a-half session.
• The best part of the study of body language is that it is
constantly changing. People in all different fields use it to
better understand our society.
You may already practice some of the things we discussed today. Hopefully, you
discovered some new ideas and can try them out in the future.
Thank you for participating in this session. I hope we have given you something of value
to take home with you today.
I hear and I forget
I see and I remember
I do and I understand
Confucius
So now we have a short 20 question quiz for you…
Body Language Quiz
We are passing out a quiz and answer key..
Along with the quiz, I have provided a
bibliography
Body Language Quiz
1. Which of the following is the least reliable indicator of deception?
Presence or absence of illustrators when talking
Vocal quality
Facial micro-expressions
Fake smiles
2. When asked the direct question “At what time did you leave the office last Friday afternoon?”
a deceptive person is more likely to:
Repeat the question in full before answering
Repeat just a few words of the question before answering
3. A deceptive person will avoid direct eye contact with you when asked a question:
True
False
4. Which of these two smiles is fake?
Smile A
Smile B
5. When someone says “To be honest…” in response to a direct question:
It indicates he is likely telling the truth
It suggests he is lying or omitting something
6. You are trying to better understand what motivated someone to behave deceptively. They have already
admitted to you that they lied. How should you phrase the question to minimize a defensive response?
Tell them all of the facts you already know about the situation and all of the people you have already spoken to
so they understand you won't listen to b.s.
Ask them directly why they behaved the way they did.
Ask them what made them do what they did.
Be as silent as possible and just let them talk.
7. Fake smiles can be identified because of the lack of action in which muscles?
Muscles orbiting the eye
Muscles at the corners of the mouth
Muscles around the jaw
8. When a person is lying, the mistakes that can reveal his deception are more likely to be found in:
The words of his story
His nonverbal behavior
9. Which of these seven primary emotions are expressed with the same facial expressions worldwide? Fear,
Sadness, Disgust, Happiness, Contempt, Surprise, Anger
All of the above
Anger and Contempt
Sadness and Fear
None of the above
10. People telling a lie will often involuntarily blink more than they do when they’re telling the truth.
True
False
11. Which one of the 7 primary emotions appears as an asymmetrical facial expression in its truthful form?
Contempt
Surprise
Anger
Disgust
Happiness
12. A Detailed prologue is:
likely to be found in true story
likely to be found in deceptive story
13. Use of strict chronological order is:
likely to be found in true story
likely to be found in deceptive story
14. Expression of emotion is:
likely to be found in true story
likely to be found in deceptive story
15. Use of Illustration with gestures is:
likely to be found in true story
likely to be found in deceptive story
Fear
Sadness
16. Addition of an Epilogue is:
likely to be found in true story
likely to be found in deceptive story
17. Detail around the main event:
likely to be found in true story
likely to be found in deceptive story
18. What is the most honest part of the body?
Face
Feet
19. Splaying is a territorial display of the body. It shows disrespect or indifference to those in authority when a
person spreads out during an interview.
True
False
20. Which group is generally believed to be better at recognizing body language?
Men
Women
Neither
Answers to Quiz
1. Which of the following is the least reliable indicator of
deception?
Vocal quality
Vocal quality is the least reliable indicator of deception. It is
far too subjective for it to be a reliable indicator of
deception.
2. When asked the direct question “At what time did you leave
the office last Friday afternoon?” a deceptive person is
more likely to:
Repeat the question in full before answering
The deceptive person is more likely to parrot the full
question, not just part of it. Repeating the full question
buys the liar a few extra moments to prepare a story
and compose himself before delivering it.
3. A deceptive person will avoid direct eye contact with you
when asked a question:
False
False. Perhaps the biggest myth about liars is that they avoid
direct eye contact. The reality is that many liars engage
in even more eye contact than the average person,
because they know it will help them “sell” their story.
4. Which of these two smiles is fake?
Smile B
The fake smile is photo B. How to tell the difference? See
Question #7!
5. When someone says “To be honest…” in response to a
direct question:
It suggests he is lying or omitting something
The phrase “To be honest…” is associated with deception.
Liars commonly use such “bolstering statements” to
beef up the appearance of truthfulness. Someone
telling the truth typically doesn't need to emphasize
that what he is saying is the truth—the facts speak for
themselves.
6. You are trying to better understand what motivated
someone to behave deceptively. They have already
admitted to you that they lied. How should you phrase
the question to minimize a defensive response?
Ask them what made them do what they did.
A key to eliciting truthful responses, especially in an
interview or interrogation setting, is to be nonconfrontational. Ask people to explain their version of
events, without appearing judgmental, by using
phrases such as “What made you…?” instead of the
blunt “Why?” By removing the pressure, asking openended questions, and showing a willingness to hear
an explanation, you will be more likely to get a truthful
account.
7. Fake smiles can be identified because of the lack of action
in which muscles?
Muscles orbiting the eye
Look at the eyes! In fake or “social” smiles, the muscles
around the eyes, called the orbicularis oculi, do not
engage. The telltale sign is the absence of “crow’s feet”
at the corner of the eyes, which are present in genuine
smiles.
8. When a person is lying, the mistakes that can reveal his
deception are more likely to be found in:
His nonverbal behavior
His nonverbal behavior. Liars are typically too focused on
delivering their story and trying to make it sound
convincing to control their body language. Words only
make up about 7% of how we communicate whereas
body language accounts for 65%, so there is plenty of
nonverbal information being conveyed that lie spotters
can use to uncover deception.
9. Which of these seven primary emotions are expressed with
the same facial expressions worldwide? Fear, Sadness,
Disgust, Happiness, Contempt, Surprise, Anger
All of the above
Fear Sadness Disgust Happiness Contempt Surprise Anger
These core emotions are universal, and are expressed
with similar facial expressions the world over.
10. People telling a lie will often involuntarily blink more than
they do when they’re telling the truth.
True
True. While the amount of eye contact is an unreliable
indicator of deception, higher than normal blink rates
by a person should put you on guard.
11. Which one of the 7 primary emotions appears as an
asymmetrical facial expression in its truthful form?
Contempt
Contempt. The default expression of contempt involves just
one corner, and not both, of the mouth being pulled up
and in.
12. A Detailed prologue is:
likely to be found in deceptive story
Deceptive stories are more likely than true stories to be told
with a detailed prologue. It is relatively easy for a liar
to pad a story with meaningless details that precede
the main event. These introductory details will often
be true.
13. Use of strict chronological order is:
likely to be found in deceptive story
Deceptive stories are more likely than true stories to be told
with strict chronology. These introductory details will
often be true; they are included to boost credibility
and distract from the falsified main event. Liars also
find it easier to tell made-up stories in chronological
order, so they can keep the details of their stories
straight.
14. Expression of emotion is:
likely to be found in true story
This is because truth-tellers recall emotions as they retell a
story, whereas liars don’t feel the real emotions
associated with their concocted tales
15. Use of Illustration with gestures is:
likely to be found in true story
Someone telling a truthful story, is likely to skip around, be
illustrative with gestures.
16. Addition of an Epilogue is:
likely to be found in true story
Someone telling a truthful story, is likely to add an epilogue
that summarizes the story.
17. Detail around the main event:
likely to be found in true story
Someone telling a truthful story is likely to include ample
detail around the main event.
18. What is the most honest part of the body?
feet
19. Splaying is a territorial display of the body. It shows
disrespect or indifference to those in authority when a
person spreads out during an interview.
True
20. Which group is generally believed to be better at
recognizing body language?
Women