In this article by Quest, Sophie van der Zee, Assistant Professor at both Erasmus School of Economics and Erasmus School of Law, takes a closer look at how to recognise a lie, and how reliable our methods are for finding out the truth.
The complexity of lies
Van der Zee emphasises that lying is a universally human trait. Yet distinguishing truth from lies turns out to be far from easy. People are generally poor at recognising lies; even professionals, such as police officers, on average perform no better than chance. This is because there is no universal behaviour or signal that specifically betrays a lie.
Technology as a tool
The search for objective ways to detect lies has led to technological innovations. Consider polygraphs, which measure physiological responses such as heart rate and breathing. However, Van der Zee is exploring newer methods based on motion analysis and behavioural changes. By using sophisticated sensors and algorithms, subtle changes in body language can be detected, potentially indicating falsehoods.
The ethical dimension
In addition to technological advances, Sophie van der Zee points out the ethical issues surrounding lie detection. How do we prevent such technologies from being abused? And how do we ensure they are used accurately and fairly? These questions are crucial at a time when privacy and trust are increasingly under pressure.
Future prospects
Although there is still much to learn, Van der Zee sees a future where lie detection is not only a tool for investigative agencies, but can also contribute to fairer trials and better communication. She calls for more interdisciplinary research to increase the reliability and applicability of these technologies.
With her work, Sophie van der Zee sheds new light on an age-old problem. Her findings not only offer scientific insights, but also raise questions about how we deal with truth and deception in a rapidly changing world.
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You can download the full article from Quest above.
