Interpersonal deception detection in intercultural interaction

Abstract

This research incorporated deception detection theories and their possible complications based on intercultural communication factors. Past studies investigated how individuals detect another individual’s true emotions, in an interview, when the latter individual was either truly or falsely described a movie clip she or he had seen that aroused negative emotions (or, had seen a movie clip that aroused positive emotions). Recent research on intercultural communication suggests that when interviewers interact with interviewees in a language other than the interviewees’ native language, they are less able to assess accurately whether individuals are describing their emotions truthfully or falsely.

Using 134 student interviewers whose first language is English and 134 interviewees whose first language is or is not English, this experiment extended knowledge about native/non-native language effects on interviewers' judgment accuracy and their suspicion in an interactive context. Results showed that individuals were more accurate at discerning between lie- and truth-tellers who were native vs. non-native English speakers. Interviewers’ suspicion was affected by deception, not language. Furthermore, relationships between deception and anxiety, immediacy/affection, and cultural orientations were explored.