STATEMENT
ANALYSIS
It is impossible to lie perfectly and
consistently. Lying will leave evidence of itself, which can be detected by
the sensitive observer.
Statement Analysis is based on the premise
that truthful stories exhibit certain consistent patterns and norms. When an
account deviates significantly from these norms and patterns of
truthfulness, the analyst will know that something is amiss at that point
and will then investigate that area more closely for other signs of
deception.
The purpose of
statement analysis is to detect deception and to obtain information.
Statement analysis is founded upon certain basic laws of human psychology,
as well as on many years of experimental research and validation.
The formal science of Statement Analysis began to take shape shortly after
World War II, as structured techniques were developed to examine language
usage. Those techniques were subsequently refined by several West German
Psychologists and in 1954 the Statement Analysis was mandated into the
German legal system.
Further development on the adaptation of the original techniques was brought
by American and Israeli investigators. In fact the "father" of modern
Statement Analysis is Avinoam Sapir, an Israeli Rabbi whose extensively
researched the field, applying his vast experience.
Statement Analysis techniques are today used by investigation and
intelligence agencies as a very valid tool of "truth extraction".
As such Statement Analysis has found applications in diverse areas:
-
Human
resources (hiring, pre-employment screening etc.)
-
Criminology and Forensic investigation of documents
-
Legal
profession
-
Insurance
fraud detection
-
Private
investigation
-
Journalism
-
Forensic
Auditing
-
and many
more