Spy the Lie: Former CIA Officers Teach You How to Detect Deception

by Philip Houston

Those three convincing statements were tremendously effective, for three reasons. First, like all convincing statements, they were true or irrefutable. When she said, “I love my children,” that was probably true on some level. When she said, “I would never hurt my kids,” that was heartbreakingly untrue. But at the time she made it, it was irrefutable. CONVINCING STATEMENTS “No one would ever question my honesty.” “I have a great reputation.” “I’m an honest person.” “My word is my bond.” “It’s not in my nature to do something like that.” “I always try to do the right thing.” “I would never jeopardize my job by doing something like that.” “How could you even think I could be involved in something this serious?” “I have worked here for over twenty years.” “I love you, I would never do anything to hurt you.” Second, convincing statements usually incorporate emotion. In this case, the officer said that when Ms. Smith made those statements, the investigators could see tears welling up in her eyes—the emotion is what expresses the conviction. Emotion in and of itself isn’t necessarily truthful or deceptive. But untruthful people use it to enhance the deception. The third factor is that the statements were consistent with the investigators’ bias. “In our experience, moms just don’t kill their kids,”