Preparing For The Interview
Everyone Wants To Talk
People's Words Will Betray Them
True Stories Come From Memory
The Shortest Answer Is The Best
Everything Has A Meaning
Use The Same Language
People Do Not Want To Lie
The Denial
Starting The Interview
Get Them Talking To You
Obtaining A Statement
Analyzing The Statement
Look At The Language
Specific Words
Unique Words
Unusual Words
Untruthful Words
Test Your Knowledge
Lesson One Test
Send Email
Introduction Page
Preparing For The Interview
People's Words Will Betray Them
It is not easy to withhold information. Even a deceptive person who is doing his best to withhold information will tell us more than what he realizes. Unfortunately, people sometimes tell us more than what we realize. The key is to listen to what people are saying and to know what to listen for in their statement.
The truth will slip out. If a person is lying, most of the time we will see their deception several times throughout their statement in various ways. This group of deceptive signals is something you want to look for to help you make your final decision as to whether or not the person is being truthful. However, there are times when deception may only be detected by one word. Therefore, careful attention must be given to everything the person says.
On January 6, 1994, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by a man wielding a blunt object. Shortly after the attack several men associated with rival figure skater Tonya Harding were arrested for their role in the attack. Authorities wondered if Tonya Harding was in any way involved in the attack on Kerrigan. At a news conference, Harding gave a statement in which she said,
"I don't know for sure anything about what's going on at all."
Can you find the words that let us know Tonya Harding was withholding information? It is the phrase "for sure." Harding did not say she did not know what was going on. She said she did not know "for sure" what was going on. This means she knows something. She just may not have all the details. Approximately ten days after giving this statement Harding admitted that she did withhold information about the attack.
"I am responsible, however, for failing to report things I learned about the assault when I returned home from Nationals."
A good reporter or interviewer would not have had to wait ten days to get that information. By stating to Tonya Harding at her news conference "Miss Harding, tell us about the things you are not sure of in regards to this incident" she may have provided more details at that time.
| Continue Lesson One with "True Stories Come From Memory" |