Beyond words

Research into the cues that identify deceptive written communications has come on leaps and bounds in the last couple of years, writes Isabel Picornell of QED Limited. Statement analysis is no longer just the province of the criminal investigator, the psychologist or forensic linguist. Recent exploratory studies into identifying deceptive language in textual computer-mediated communication (CMC) aims to develop tools to aid people in deciding whether the emails they receive contain truthful or deceptive information. However computerised technology develops, the basis for detecting deceptive cues in textual material remains grounded in the linguistic and structural features to which deceivers resort during deception.

Isabel Picornell CFE is the principal of QED Limited, a consultancy that promotes the use of psycho-linguistics to fight fraud through the analysis of written statements. She may be contacted on tel: +44 (0) 1481 824688; email: info@qed.info.

Motivation

The single most important factor that affects linguistic style is the individual’s motivation to succeed with the deception. The higher the consequence of discovery (such as public embarrassment, job loss or imprisonment), the more motivated the deceiver will be to succeed, and the greater will be his/her state of anxiety. The greater the deceiver’s state of anxiety, the greater will be the impact on his/her linguistic style.