Really interesting article http://www.statesman.com/news/content/editorial/stories/insight/12/23/1223torturemyths.html

For about 40 years, psychologists have been testing police officers as well as normal people to see if they can spot lies, and the results aren't encouraging. Ordinary folks have an accuracy rate of about 57 percent, which is pretty poor considering that 50 percent is the flip of a coin. Likewise, the cops' accuracy rates fall between 45 percent and 65 percent — sometimes less accurate than a coin toss.

Why does this matter? Because even if a torturer breaks a person, the torturer has to recognize it, and most of the time they can't. Torturers assume too much and reject what doesn't fit their assumptions.

Torturers are usually chosen because they've endured hardship and pain, fought with courage, kept secrets, held the right beliefs and earned a reputation as trustworthy and loyal. They often rely on folklore about lying behavior — shifty eyes, sweaty palms and so on. Unsurprisingly, they make a lot of mistakes.

i will remember that next time i torture someone

http://www.gladwell.com/2002/2002_08_05_a_face.htm

it's quite a read, though worth thinking about

last edited by koopz at 22:46:34 27/Dec/07

yeah at uni i remember seeing a video of how to tell when someone is lying. Gotta look for 'micro smiles' in the face.

devil worshipers

Jack Bauer is good at torture.

I think its bs about the 50% being flip of a coin compared to actually listening to the person and generally believing what they say (why wouldnt you?) and somehow supposed to find some little quirk that they've likely learnt how to supress, or accidentally exhibit while telling the truth.

To think that if you're tested at 45% you should just not even listen and use a roulette wheel spinning red (truth) or black (lie) seems a little lame.

I believe people would have their 'tells' but people would convince themselves they've found someone's tell when they haven't.