Fantasy proneness as a confounder of verbal lie detection tools

K. Schelleman-Offermans*, H.L.G.J. Merckelbach

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This study investigated whether high fantasy-prone individuals have superior storytelling abilities. It also explored whether this trait is related to specific linguistic features (i.e. self-references, cognitive complexity, and emotional words). Participants high (n = 30) and low (n = 30) on a fantasy proneness scale were instructed to write down a true and a fabricated story about an aversive situation in which they had been the victim. Stories were then examined using two verbal lie detection approaches: criteria-based content analysis (CBCA) and linguistic inquiry and word count (LIWC). Irrespective of the truth status of the stories, independent observers rated stories of high fantasy-prone individuals as being richer in all nine CBCA elements than those of low fantasy-prone individuals. Furthermore, overall, high fantasy-prone people used more self-references in their stories compared with low fantasy-prone individuals. High fantasy prones' fabricated stories scored higher on various truth indices than authentic stories of low fantasy prones. Thus, high fantasy-prone people are good in creating a sense of authenticity, even when they fabricate stories. Forensic experts should bear this in mind when they employ verbal lie detection tools. 

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)247-260
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling
Volume7
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2010

Keywords

  • ACCOUNTS
  • ADOLESCENTS
  • COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION
  • CUES
  • DECEPTION
  • EVENTS
  • LANGUAGE
  • LINGUISTIC STYLES
  • STORY
  • TRUTHFUL
  • criteria-based content analysis
  • false allegations
  • fantasy proneness
  • linguistic inquiry and word count
  • verbal lie detection

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