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Cultural patterns in Dutch and Surinam nonverbal behavior: An analysis of simulated police/citizen encounters

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Abstract

Differences in nonverbal behavioral patterns in a simulated police interview setting were examined. One group of subjects was asked to tell the truth to a police officer whereas the other group was asked to deceive the officer. Major differences between our study and other deception studies include the distinction between nonverbal behavior displayed while listening and while speaking, and the inclusion of black subjects. Results show that there are differences in nonverbal behavior between deceivers and those who tell the truth, and generally support the finding that deception is associated with changes in vocal characteristics and hand and arm movements. However, differences in hand and arm movements occurred only while the deceiver was listening. Furthermore, findings showed that blacks looked less frequently at their discussion partner, smiled and laughed more, made more speech disturbances, spoke slower, and with more pitch raises, and were livelier in the sense that they made more trunk movements and gestures than whites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Aldert Vrij

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  1. Aldert Vrij
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  2. Frans Willem Winkel
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Additional information

We wish to thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on an earlier draft. This project was in part supported by the PSYCHON Foundation, which is subsidized by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research.

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Vrij, A., Winkel, F.W. Cultural patterns in Dutch and Surinam nonverbal behavior: An analysis of simulated police/citizen encounters. J Nonverbal Behav 15, 169–184 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01672219

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