A Few Transparent Liars: Explaining 54% Accuracy in Deception Detection Experiments

• In Event: Flawed Processing: Inaccuracy, Irrationality and Delusional Processes in Social Cognition

Abstract

Deception detection experiments consistently find that people are significantly, but only slightly better than chance. The stability of this finding and the lack of variance in judge ability are at odds with accepted deception theory which explains accuracy as a message recipient's ability to spot leaked deception cues. An alterative explanation based on a few transparent liars provides a more coherent account of deception detection findings and has important implications for past and future deception theory.

Author

• Timothy Levine, Michigan State University