New research: Your writing can reveal when you are lying
Research by Kajsa Gullberg indicates that writing patterns can reveal signs of deception, with differences noted between truthful and false narratives.
Kajsa Gullberg has gathered over 800 stories from individuals recounting longer events both orally and in writing, comprising both true and false versions. Her research not only highlights that tendencies observed in spoken language also manifest in written form, but it also unveils several indicators that may suggest someone is fabricating a story. For instance, the study shows that more pauses occur when writing a long lie compared to a long truth. However, when one takes a long time to write a lie, fewer pauses are noted than when taking a while to write truthfully.
Furthermore, Gullberg's analysis outlines that written accounts meant to deceive tend to undergo less editing. This indicates a more cautious approach where the liar thinks carefully about their wording before writing or speaking. Gullberg points out that the act of crafting a lie results in lesser revision, which can be tied to a heightened awareness of the need for plausible consistency. This aligns with previous assertions regarding spoken language and adds a new dimension by demonstrating similar patterns in written communication.
In a follow-up study, participants were asked to write the same truthful and deceptive stories multiple times, evidencing that the edits increased with each successive version, particularly for truthful narratives. This research not only sheds light on the nuances of deception detection in writing but could potentially have broader implications for fields such as forensic psychology, law enforcement, and even personal interactions where trust is essential.