Drawing-based deception detection techniques: a state-of-the-art review

ABSTRACT

The current article presents a concise overview of the emerging literature on drawing-based deception detection techniques. We cover the theoretical rationale of such techniques as well as the main results from the extant empirical studies. These studies have primarily looked at differences in the drawings between truth tellers and liars in terms of quality (e.g. detail, plausibility) and consistency (both within-group, and between-statement). The findings highlight drawings as a promising tool to elicit differences between truth tellers and liars on such cues. The article also examines more practical aspects, such as practitioners’ experience of the approach and preference for the approach in training studies. Finally, the susceptibility of the approach to counter-measures and directions for future research are discussed. Although research on drawing-based deception detection techniques is still very much in its infancy, results of this first round of studies are promising. They indicate the potential of incorporating drawings into real-life investigative interviews as a cheap, effective, and easy-to-use approach to deception detection.

KEYWORDS:

• Drawing
• deception
• cognitive load
• consistency

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Erik Mac Giolla

Erik Mac Giolla is a post-doc at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. He has a broad interest in legal psychology and has conducted research on the topics of eyewitness memory, investigative interviewing, and deception detection.

Pär Anders Granhag

Pär Anders Granhag is a professor of psychology at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. He has been conducting research on legal psychology for soon 30 years. His main areas of research are interviewing, interrogation, and deception detection. He is the founding director of the research unit for Criminal, Legal and Investigative Psychology (CLIP) and he is the editor of the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology.

Zarah Vernham

Zarah Vernham is an early career researcher and a senior lecturer of security and investigations within the Department of Psychology at the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom. Her main research interests are in the area of investigative interviewing, deception detection, and offender behaviours.