An extremeley interesting article from Psychology Today

Neuronarrative

Musings on the complicated business of thinking

by David DiSalvo

If You Want to Catch a Liar, Make Him Draw

Liars stumble when they can't verbalize their lies

Published on October 4, 2010

Researchers hypothesized that several tendencies would become evident in the scribbles and sketches of liars not found in those of non-liars. For instance, they suspected that liars, when asked to sketch out the particulars of a location where they hadn't really been to meet someone they hadn't really met, would provide less detail in their drawings. They also suspected that the drawing would seem less plausible overall, and would not include a depiction of the person they allegedly met.

They also hypothesized that non-liars would use a "shoulder-camera" perspective to draw the situation--a direct, line-of-sight view that previous research suggests is more indicative of truth telling. Liars, they suspected, would use an "overhead-camera" perspective, indicating a sense of detachment from the situation.

Subjects were given a "mission" that included going to a designated location and meeting a person with whom they would exchange information. In all, four different missions were conducted. The particulars of the missions were constructed such that about half of the participants would, when interviewed, be able to tell the truth about what happened, and half would have to lie (the researchers used a fabricated espionage theme to work this out--very clever).

During the interview, subjects were asked questions about their experience, as would happen in a normal interrogation, and also asked to draw the particulars of their experience. Results of the verbal responses could then be compared to the drawn responses to determine which method was more effective in identifying liars.

Here's what happened: No significant differences in level of detail were found between verbal and drawn statements, but the plausibility of truthful drawings was somewhat higher than deceptive drawings. A similar difference in plausibility was not evident between truthful and deceptive verbal statements.

More interestingly, significantly more truth tellers included the "agent" (other person in the situation) in their drawings than did liars (80% vs. 13%). In addition, significantly more truth tellers drew from a shoulder-camera view than liars, who by and large drew from an overhead view (53% vs. 19%). In verbal statements, more truth tellers also mentioned the agent than liars (53% vs. 19%).

Using the "sketching the agent" result alone, it was possible to identify 80% of the truth tellers and 87% of the liars--results superior to most traditional interview techniques.

The main reason drawing seems to be effective in identifying liars is that they have less time to work out the details. Someone who is telling the truth already has a visual image of where they were and what happened (even if it's not perfect, which of course it never is), but liars have to manufacture the details. It's easier to concoct something verbally than to first visualize and then create it on paper.


Copyright 2010 - David DiSalvo

Culture Amnesia

I often wonder how the plight of women in the 21st century has changed since pre-Islamic times. We talk about freedom and liberation, but at the end of the day, we're all still entangled in the prehistoric duel for equality. It's funny how double standards play such a pivotal role, by men and women alike, to justify their arguments. In the case of men, for example, it's considered to be a praiseworthy feat for a man to be able to attract numerous women- to have one partner is, in the western world, often considered to be something that is atypical. When television shows such as Jersey Shore which glamorize and idealize the "art" of one-night-stands and regarding women as sexual objects,  attract a total of 6.5 million viewers (record-smashing statistics, might I add), one wonders whether the this trend is one that we wish to instill in our future generations. And if you're going to argue and talk about how this is western "culture" and doesn't affect any other part of the world, I'd beg to differ. 

 I don't live in a western country; the norms and culture of my society are predominantly conservative – however, this traditional set up has not barraged the inflow of western philosophies and values from infiltrating into local society. Additionally, not to sound too hostile towards foreign culture, I would like to add that I do appreciate the positive aspects of some of the abundantly progressive ideas, innovations, values etc etc that the west has contributed to the rest of the world. Individuality, independence, organization, progression, science, freedom, and goal-orientation are all ideas and characteristics of the Western world which I respect and often wish my society had more of. I spent a year in Canada where I learnt more about "that part of the world's" values, and was lucky to have been exposed to some of the best experiences and opportunities I had ever come across. But then again, despite all these positive traits, I still believe that many of the core values of my own community are slowly being forgotten and in some cases ignored- something which I feel is extremely unfortunate. I remember being a little girl and experiencing butterflies going crazy with excitement in my stomach on Chaand Raat (the eve of Eid)- the whole house would be buzzing with people getting ready for the next day, whether it be in terms of clothes, food or house clean-ups. I'd beg my parents to take us out for Chaand Raat shopping, without thinking twice about suicide bombers possibly blowing up a shopping area or anything like that. But now, when I look back and remember all that, it seems like it's something from a lost era. This may be a sweeping generalization on my part, but it's the way I feel: We're starting to forget the significance of a day which is equivalent to Christmas for Christians; people (maybe from a certain class of society) pay more homage to foreign/non-Islamic events and holidays than they do to their own traditional dates. 

 You may call it globalization. I'd consider it globalization if the rest of the world celebrated OUR events/traditions as much as we do theirs. I mean, if it's GLOBAL, it should be all over the globe, right? Don't get me wrong. I think it's great to learn from different cultures and religions. You get a more balanced view of the world- you learn more. But at the cost of forgetting where you've come from? I'm not too sure about that. As I write this, I feel hypocritical. After all, the Eid I just described to you was MY Eid and that was how I felt about it. But despite this change of heart, the feeling of ownership and protectiveness for something that used to belong to me, and still does I should say, still exists. It's sad to see today's elitist youth forget their roots. I wish we still treasured what our parents have to offer. I wish we didn't have to follow foreign cultures just to feel like we're made of something. I wish we didn't have to be slaves of the west in the 21^st century. I wish we could walk around any country of the world and be proud to say that we, indeed, are Muslims residing in Pakistan, the land of the pure. Not the land of suicide bombers and fundamentalists. Why can't we go abroad and not be embarrassed of wearing our national dress, or covering our head if we want to? Why do we, instead, begin to adopt alien behaviours and begin to engage in acts which we know we may not be comfortable with? Is it that hard to fit in?

 I am a hypocrite. I accept it. But I'm very proud to say that I'm glad that I am one. Why? Because it took me to become a hypocrite to realize what was important to me, and where I stood. I don't mean to demean foreign cultures in any way. Like I said earlier, it's great to learn and experience the world around us. But nothing can supersede the home you've come from. 

Society

I often wonder how the plight of women in the 21st century has changed since pre-islamic times. We talk about freedom and liberation, but at the end of the day, we're all still entangled in the prehistoric duel for equality. It's funny how double standards play such a pivotal role, by men and women alike, to justify their arguments. In the case of men, for example, it's considered to be a praiseworthy feat for a man to be able to attract numerous women- to have one partner is, in the western world, often considered to be something that is atypical. When television shows such as Jersey Shore which glamorize and idealize the "art" of one-night-stands and regarding women as sexual objects,  attract a total of 6.5 million viewers (record-smashing statistics, might I add), one wonders whether the this trend is one that we wish to instill in our future generations. And if you're going to argue and talk about how this is western "culture" and doesn't effect any other part of the world, I WOULD  like to smack you. Lightly, but effectively. I don't live in the a western country, the norms and culture of my country are predominantly conservative- this traditional set up has not barraged the broadcasting of MTV and other such channels which 

It’s the Time to Say Goodbye

Good-byes are hard. I've finally managed to figure that out - after 21 years. It doesn't matter whether you part with a parent, friend, lover...or even a place. It's always hard. Think: tears, letters inundated with promises to keep in touch, good-bye presents, love letters, and heartfelt prayers, to name a few. However, in my opinion, the hardest part isn't the ACTUAL ACT leaving, but is the post-departure emotional baggage you carry. Oh my. What seem like millions of tons of the most pre-historic rocks plunked mercilessly on your back, indeed, show no mercy. This may seem to sound like a sweeping generalization, so I do concede that some are luckier than others in this department. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of those fortunate few. From that experience-I-wish-I-never-have-to-go-through-again, I finally understood what people meant when they said, "We need closure."

I finally understood.



I want to dedicate this post to a person who, despite the shit that was thrown at my face, stood by me through the good and the bad. Names aren't necessary. I don't think they ever are.


My mixed feelings hit me really hard; they don't make sense. Too many people have come up to me and, have literally, asked me what the fuck i'm doing in such a relationship...why did i ever even get into something like it? i honestly, to this day, don't have an answer. Blind love? Neediness? Support? Ease? Comfort? Emotions? I sometimes wonder what the point of all of it is: is it worth the emotional desecration; the conflicts, the lack of freedom and the attempts to break imposed bounds? I've always known myself to be a free soul; I don't like being told what to do- an issue with authority, if you may. But I've realised that when you're in a particular situation where constantly under a certain pressure, you adapt yourself to deal with it. In my case, I've, if it's politically correct to say, mis-adapted. I feel an aversion to relationships forming within me, a need to get out and control everything and everyone around me- a need to dominate. I think it's the ungrateful selfish bitch inside of me trying to overtake my life once again. I'd drowned her out of my consciousness for a long time; I'd learnt my lesson but now that I feel like I have control over a person- a ruthlessly whipped control- my id impulses return, stronger than ever. 


I think it's pretty unfair of me to be communicating such a negative picture of my relationship. To be honest, despite the shit- the anger, the fights, the clinginess etc- I honestly don't think someone will ever do justice to the love I have received in these past 2 years. Selfless love. Sacrificing love. Incomparable to a great extent. I feel like a princess. I love it. That's my selfish side speaking. But don't get me wrong, I love him. The question is, in what capacity? As the best friend I've always known him to be, or as the boyfriend who has been the highlight of my life for the past 2 years?  That's pretty much the crux of the dilemma I've been facing for a while now. I'm a pussy when it comes to break ups. I think we've had multiple break ups till now- but there's always that argument and that annoyingly strong attachment that I have for him that doesn't let me run very far.  The decision is something that is smack in my face; implementation is a sucker. If I could have it my way, I'd turn back time- go back to Toronto/Montreal and undo every little mistake I made that has led me to be sitting here writing a weirdly confused blog entry. A little too late, yeah? 


Long distance can be a bitch. But I've always felt like I would do a good job at it- and I have. And I've only done it because I love him (friend or boyfriend?). But now I'm at a point where I'm not sure if I can do this any longer. I crave something new- i crave to explore and discover myself and the situation that I am right now doesn't permit me to do that wholeheartedly. I need to broaden my horizons, find myself- I'm too young to be tied down with something I know doesn't have a future. I need to learn more about the world around me and the reconnect with people who I've cut off from my life because of him. It's unhealthy. I miss my best friends. I miss my life outside a relationship. I miss being 16. 


My mind's made up. I know what to do. I know it's going to hurt you, but I think I've hurt you  enough. It's time to stop this. It's time to say goodbye.



 

It's the Time to Say Goodbye

Good-byes are hard. I've finally managed to figure that out - after 21 years. It doesn't matter whether you part with a parent, friend, lover...or even a place. It's always hard. Think: tears, letters inundated with promises to keep in touch, good-bye presents, love letters, and heartfelt prayers to name a few. However, in my opinion, the hardest part isn't the ACTUAL ACT of the parting, but is the post-departure emotional baggage you carry . Oh my. What seem like millions of tons of the most pre-historic rocks perched

The Importance of Reasons.

When I was little, I didn't know what psychology was.  I didn't even know something called "psychology" existed. Little did I know that it was incorporated into my daily life. There were times I'd get upset when my brother called me fat, when I'd use convincing tactics on my mother to buy me my that beautiful, blue-eyed Barbie perched on a shelf at the toy store and the times I would go the local library to read the "these-aren't-for-kids-your-age-books" behind my parents' back. I never thought that such small things could have a long lasting effect on my personality or the way I would look at the world when I came of age. The more I delve into the subject of studying human behaviour, the more I realise that every little event that takes place in your life (whether you're a 6-month old baby or a 60-year old veteran), somehow or the other, has an impact on you and the way you behave, analyse and react to everything around you.  This is why I'm a staunch believer in the clichéd saying, "Everything happens for a reason". The connotation that I personally derive from it isn't in reference to worldly events, but is with respect to individual differences. So here's an example.

I started working somewhere a couple of years ago, where I met this boy (let's call him X). X was really out-going and fun...but a little annoying. Actually, let's get real. He made me want to rip my brains out. And I wasn't the only one who felt this way. Despite his hit-the-roof confidence, X had a queer side. He'd gossip about people in a menacing way, narrate odd stories about himself having tea with the Queen of England, and spread false rumours about himself engaging in sexual acts with other colleagues, to list a few. Unfortunately, when it came to X, my patience was nil - and I let that show. Eventually, not only was X left ostracised, but was also the guy no one wanted to befriend. The outcast, to sum it up. A month after his social exclusion, I heard that X had resigned from his post. As shameful as it is to admit, the truth was that I was happy. Ecstatic, actually. However, it was months before I found out that not only was X from a broken home, but had also been diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder several years earlier. It was then that everything fell into place.

While I don't think that it is humanly possible to be perfect, I do believe that it is possible to give people chances...to analyse others before you judge them...to put yourself into the other person's shoes before prompting attitudes and conclusions, or even worse, behaviours, to get the better of you. We can only narrate our life stories and understand where we're coming from, but it's harder to do so for a stranger we meet on the bus or at school. If a person behaves a certain way, whether it's following or rebelling against the norm, there's always a reason for it. It may not be a psychological disorder, per say, but at the end of the day, we are all products of our experiences and encounters.

That's the beauty of psychology- it's real, it's never-ending and it's unique to each individual.