Reaction Times and Deception - the Lying Constant

Martin R. Sheridan and Kenneth A. Flowers

International Journal of Psychological Studies, 2010, vol. 2, issue 2, 41

Abstract: The cognitive theory of lie detection suggests that it takes longer on average to formulate a deliberately falseresponse than a truthful one because it requires the truth to first be known and then altered, adding an extracomponent to the response process. This concept was upheld in a modified form in three experiments wheresubjects indicated as quickly as possible whether presented numbers were higher or lower than a given standardnumber, and to “lie†(give the wrong answer deliberately) on half the trials. Results suggested that lying adds aconstant additional time to reaction times (RTs) independently of other factors such as the complexity of thecognitive task or method of response. Additionally, true Yes RTs were shorter than true No ones, producing aninteraction with the lying constant such that RTs could reliably distinguish truth from lies for Yes responses butnot so easily for No responses.

Date: 2010
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