The time of the crime: cognitively induced bodily arousal suppression when lying in a free recall context

Sharon Leal; Aldert Vrij; R. Fisher; J. Van Hooff

doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2008.03.015

The time of the crime: cognitively induced bodily arousal suppression when lying in a free recall context

Sharon Leal, Aldert Vrij, R. Fisher, J. Van Hooff

International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Previous research has shown that suspects in real-life interviews do not display stereotypical signs of nervous behaviours, even though they may be experiencing high detection anxiety. We hypothesised that these suspects may have experienced cognitive load when lying and that this cognitive load reduced their tonic arousal, which suppressed signs of nervousness. We conducted two experiments to test this hypothesis. Tonic electrodermal arousal and blink rate were examined during task-induced (Experiment 1) and deception-induced cognitive load (Experiment 2). Both increased cognitive difficulty and deception resulted in decreased tonic arousal and blinking. This demonstrated for the first time that when lying results in heightened levels of cognitive load, signs of nervousness are decreased. We discuss implications for detecting deception and more wide-ranging phenomena related to emotional behaviour.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-7
Journal	Acta Psychologica
Volume	129
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2008.03.015
Publication status	Published - Sept 2008

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.actpsy.2008.03.015

Cite this

@article{aad3a2fa23e04838bbf75a5837b1e169,

title = "The time of the crime: cognitively induced bodily arousal suppression when lying in a free recall context",

abstract = "Previous research has shown that suspects in real-life interviews do not display stereotypical signs of nervous behaviours, even though they may be experiencing high detection anxiety. We hypothesised that these suspects may have experienced cognitive load when lying and that this cognitive load reduced their tonic arousal, which suppressed signs of nervousness. We conducted two experiments to test this hypothesis. Tonic electrodermal arousal and blink rate were examined during task-induced (Experiment 1) and deception-induced cognitive load (Experiment 2). Both increased cognitive difficulty and deception resulted in decreased tonic arousal and blinking. This demonstrated for the first time that when lying results in heightened levels of cognitive load, signs of nervousness are decreased. We discuss implications for detecting deception and more wide-ranging phenomena related to emotional behaviour.",

author = "Sharon Leal and Aldert Vrij and R. Fisher and {Van Hooff}, J.",

year = "2008",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.actpsy.2008.03.015",

language = "English",

volume = "129",

pages = "1--7",

journal = "Acta Psychologica",

issn = "0001-6918",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The time of the crime

T2 - cognitively induced bodily arousal suppression when lying in a free recall context

AU - Leal, Sharon

AU - Vrij, Aldert

AU - Fisher, R.

AU - Van Hooff, J.

PY - 2008/9

Y1 - 2008/9

N2 - Previous research has shown that suspects in real-life interviews do not display stereotypical signs of nervous behaviours, even though they may be experiencing high detection anxiety. We hypothesised that these suspects may have experienced cognitive load when lying and that this cognitive load reduced their tonic arousal, which suppressed signs of nervousness. We conducted two experiments to test this hypothesis. Tonic electrodermal arousal and blink rate were examined during task-induced (Experiment 1) and deception-induced cognitive load (Experiment 2). Both increased cognitive difficulty and deception resulted in decreased tonic arousal and blinking. This demonstrated for the first time that when lying results in heightened levels of cognitive load, signs of nervousness are decreased. We discuss implications for detecting deception and more wide-ranging phenomena related to emotional behaviour.

AB - Previous research has shown that suspects in real-life interviews do not display stereotypical signs of nervous behaviours, even though they may be experiencing high detection anxiety. We hypothesised that these suspects may have experienced cognitive load when lying and that this cognitive load reduced their tonic arousal, which suppressed signs of nervousness. We conducted two experiments to test this hypothesis. Tonic electrodermal arousal and blink rate were examined during task-induced (Experiment 1) and deception-induced cognitive load (Experiment 2). Both increased cognitive difficulty and deception resulted in decreased tonic arousal and blinking. This demonstrated for the first time that when lying results in heightened levels of cognitive load, signs of nervousness are decreased. We discuss implications for detecting deception and more wide-ranging phenomena related to emotional behaviour.

U2 - 10.1016/j.actpsy.2008.03.015

DO - 10.1016/j.actpsy.2008.03.015

M3 - Article

SN - 0001-6918

VL - 129

SP - 1

EP - 7

JO - Acta Psychologica

JF - Acta Psychologica

ER -

The time of the crime: cognitively induced bodily arousal suppression when lying in a free recall context

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this