The Analysis of Nonverbal Communication: The Dangers of Pseudoscience in Security and Justice Contexts

Denault, Vincent; Plusquellec, Pierrich; Jupe, Louise M.; St-Yves, Michel; Dunbar, Norah E.; Hartwig, Maria; Sporer, Siegfried L; Rioux-Turcotte, Jessica; Jarry, Jonathan; Walsh, Dave; Otgaar, Henry; Viziteu, Andrei; Talwar, Victoria; Keatley, David A.; Blandón-Gitlin, Iris; Townson, Clint; Deslauriers-Varin, Nadine; Lilienfeld, Scott O.; Patterson, Miles L.; Areh, Igor; Allan, Alfred; Evans Cameron, Hilary; Boivin, Rémi; ten Brinke, Leanne; Masip, Jaume; Bull, Ray; Cyr, Mireille; Hope, Lorraine; Strömwall, Leif A.; Bennett, Stephanie J.; Al Menaiya, Faisal; Leo, Richard A.; Vredeveldt, Annelies; Laforest, Marty; Honts, Charles R; Manzanero, Antonio L.; Mann, Samantha; Granhag, Pär-Anders; Ask, Karl; Gabbert, Fiona; Guay, Jean-Pierre; Coutant, Alexandre; Hancock, Jeffrey; Manusov, Valerie; Burgoon, Judee K.; Kleinman, Steven M.; Wright, Gordon R. T.; Landström, Sara; Freckelton, Ian; Vernham, Zarah and van Koppen, Peter J.. 2020. The Analysis of Nonverbal Communication: The Dangers of Pseudoscience in Security and Justice Contexts. Anuario de Psicología Jurídica, 30(1), pp. 1-12. ISSN 1133-0740 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

For security and justice professionals (e.g., police officers, lawyers, judges), the thousands of peer-reviewed articles on nonverbal communication represent important sources of knowledge. However, despite the scope of the scientific work carried out on this subject, professionals can turn to programs, methods, and approaches that fail to reflect the state of science. The objective of this article is to examine (i) concepts of nonverbal communication conveyed by these programs, methods, and approaches, but also (ii) the consequences of their use (e.g., on the life or liberty of individuals). To achieve this objective, we describe the scope of scientific research on nonverbal communication. A program (SPOT; Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques), a method (the BAI; Behavior Analysis Interview) and an approach (synergology) that each run counter to the state of science are examined. Finally, we outline five hypotheses to explain why some organizations in the fields of security and justice are turning to pseudoscience and pseudoscientific techniques. We conclude the article by inviting these organizations to work with the international community of scholars who have scientific expertise in nonverbal communication and lie (and truth) detection to implement evidence-based practices.

Item Type:

Article

Identification Number (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.5093/apj2019a9

Keywords:

Pseudoscience, Nonverbal communication, SPOT, Behaviour analysis interview, Synergology

Departments, Centres and Research Units:

Psychology

Dates:

DateEvent
3 April 2019Accepted
30 April 2019Published Online
January 2020Published

Item ID:

26323

Date Deposited:

08 May 2019 11:24

Last Modified:

12 Jun 2021 07:38

Peer Reviewed:

Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.

URI:

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/26323

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