Exploring Probable Patterns of Deception Using Simulated Stress in the Layered Voice Analysis, Suspect Detection System and Polygraph

Abstract

The study of the relationship between stress and deception is not new. The current preliminary study through a mock crime scene has examined the responses that are brought out by simulated stress on the three forensic psychological instruments – Layered Voice Analysis, Suspect Detection System, and the Polygraph. Simulated stress is stress that is created under certain conditions that exist in real life usually for study or training purposes. Numerous laboratory studies on mock crimes have used the concept of simulated stress to study deception. The responses collected were then examined for analysis to understand the presence or absence of a relationship between the results generated by the three instruments. The study was also a preliminary attempt to explore the recognition and probable patterns of detection of deception or the lack thereof. The findings of the study that involved three suspects, revealed a potential pattern of deception wherein one suspect was identified as perpetrator (“suspect”) by all the three instruments. Yet another suspect’s results indicated “suspect” on two out of three instruments. In the last case, all the three instruments identified the suspect as “not a suspect”. The identification of a “suspect” is indicative of deception and perhaps knowledge of a crime (guilty knowledge). Although the modes of analysis of the three are distinctly different from each other, the final results depicting deception or truth paves the way for further research in the area. The study however, is not without its limitations. The most significant limitation of the current study is its sample size. A sample size of seven, out of which only three were tested on the instruments, is a major limitation to surmise the results.