From: jcs
During criminal investigations, particularly interrogations, the emotional responses and behavioral cues of suspects play a significant role. Detectives employ specific strategies to elicit and observe these reactions, using them as indicators of deception or truthfulness.
Suspect Behavior During Interrogation
From the outset of an interview, detectives aim to establish a compatible tone with a suspect, negating the negative implications of the environment through a friendly disposition [00:00:37]. This can influence the suspect’s initial emotional state, potentially making them more at ease.
When confronted with sensitive information, such as the name of a victim, a suspect’s reaction is closely monitored. For instance, a deliberate mispronunciation of a name might be used to observe the suspect’s immediate response [00:01:53]. A prolonged pause, significantly longer than normal, can be interpreted as a sign of deception, indicating the suspect is fabricating a response rather than genuinely recalling [00:02:02].
Psychological Reactions and Deception
In moments of intense confrontation, a suspect may experience a psychological reaction known as fight or flight [00:03:41]. The brain triggers a cocktail of hormones to prepare the individual to either confront the threat or escape [00:03:49].
Common verbal indicators observed during interrogations include:
- Exclamatory remarks like “gosh,” “god,” or “gee,” which are used to express surprise or strong emotion [00:04:23]. When used continuously, they may be an attempt by the suspect to feign a vague memory or lack of contemplation on the subject matter [00:04:35].
- Acting naive or oblivious to a direct confrontation. Guilty suspects often try to appear unaware to avoid the core issue, whereas truthful subjects tend to address the confrontation directly, refute it, or seek immediate clarification [00:05:01].
- Over-explaining trivial details that were not even inquired about. This behavior is a clear indication of hyper-arousal and a derivative of Terror Management Theory (TMT) [00:07:29]. Suspects may go off on unrelated tangents to gain momentary relief, using detailed discussions about minor things as a brief escape from the terrifying reality they face [00:07:42]. Psychiatrists consider this a subconscious coping mechanism, especially when a suspect is facing serious charges [00:07:53].
A suspect’s disposition and facial expressions can also signal truthfulness or deception. A passive disposition, for example, may accompany a truthful response [00:15:36], while a switch to a frantic demeanor can indicate a feigned vague memory [00:15:56].
Suspect Confrontation and Reaction
When a suspect is directly confronted with accusations or evidence, their emotional responses can be dramatic. The verbalization of a victim’s demise, particularly after many years, can cause “unmitigated terror” to emanate from the suspect’s face [00:13:41].
The transition from a conversational tone to an accusatory one, such as implying a suspect is a suspect [00:17:32], often leads to an immediate change in the suspect’s behavior and emotional state. This can escalate to demands for legal representation [00:17:58], even if they are not under arrest. Expressions of shock and disbelief are common in such situations [00:21:17].
Impact of the Crime on Victims’ Families
The emotional impact of a crime extends beyond the investigation. Victims’ families experience profound loss and indescribable sadness [00:23:33]. The effects are broad, spanning generations and creating pain for those whose lives were tragically touched by the event [00:24:25]. The knowledge that a loved one’s death occurred due to their connection to the survivor can lead to immense grief [00:24:40].