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[The following is an exact transcript of this podcast.]
When we lie, our brains work hard to make sure we get the story right and come off as truthful. Law enforcement officials try to tap into that effort, for example with polygraphs, to find out if a suspect is telling the truth. But such stress tests are beatable and not admissible in court. Now comes a report that handwriting tests could be a competitor to the familiar, but unreliable lie detector. The study appears in the Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology.
Researchers at Israel’s Haifa University worked with 34 volunteers, who wrote truthful and false paragraphs on paper using a wireless electronic pen and a pressure sensitive tip. A computerized system measured pressure and stroke duration, both on the paper and in the air. Spatial measures, such as stroke length, height and width were also tracked. And the scientists found significant differences in pressure and spatial measures in deceptive statements compared with the truth.
The investigators say they need to validate this initial result and compare the technique with polygraphs and other lie detection tools. But perhaps in the future even a written claim of innocence could turn out to be a de facto confession.
—Cynthia Graber
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5 Comments
Add CommentI find that when I'm angry I write faster, sloppier and press down harder. I hope this system would not confuse such physiological reactions as anger and deception.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIknow I write differently when I'm angry: faster, sloppier, and press down harder. I hope this system wouldn't confuse a strong reaction to some other emotion (like anger) with an attempt at deception.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisi feel i write differently when i write with a pencil instead of a pen and the duration i have to write something also effects my handwriting this is very interesting.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisStory reminds me of the rumor that Human Resources departments were using handwriting analysis in assessing job candidates. This becomes more believable to me in the current job market where companies have so many applicants to choose from. So remember to dot all your i's (good memory) and cross your t's high with a slight upward angle (ambition) when you are filling out your next job application, just in case....
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt's not just a rumor. I'm one of the handwriting professionals who works with Human Resource departments and have over the past 40 years. I've written more than 15,000 handwriting analysis reports to help HR managers make sure they're making the best match between candidates and job. Professional handwriting analysis software already exists that helps determine pathology vs reliability, etc. It has been used around the world since 1997. When I was approached by a software company to work with them on this project, I was skeptical. However, after years in development and testing by many handwriting analysts and other users, the Handwriting Analyzer software is currently in use by government offices, law enforcement, human resource managers, handwriting analysts, and individuals. www. writinganalysis dot com to try it out at no cost.
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