Behavioral Correlates of Statement Credibility: Theories, Paradigms, and Results: Part 3: Eyewitness Testimony (From Criminal Behavior and the Justice System: Psychological Perspectives, P 271-289, 1989, Hermann Wegener, et al, eds. -- See NCJ-116624)

• NCJ Number: 116641
• Author(s): G Kohnken
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: Springer-Verlag
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis explains the basic concepts, theoretical approaches, research methods, and empirical results regarding the factors affecting the assessment of the credibility of a statement.

Abstract

A main goal of a trial is the reconstruction of past events. Basic concepts relating to statements made about events are reliability, accuracy, and credibility. Truth-telling or deception involves four basic processes that influence overt behavior: attempted control, arousal, felt emotion, and cognitive processes. Research on the analysis of truth and deception has been conducted either from the encoding or expression side of credibility or from the decoder or impression side. These two perspectives can be combined to form a more general model of nonverbal communication. Several recent meta-analyses of more than 40 experimental studies on behavioral correlates of deception provide empirical evidence of substantial associations between the credibility of a message and overt behaviors. Empirical evidence also suggests that judges can discriminate between truthful and deceptive messages slightly but significantly above chance. Factors involved in assessing deception include the length of the statement, the verifiability of the content, the availability of other pieces of evidence, the complexity of the reported event, and the involvement of the witness. Recommendations for further research and 97 references.