Effects of existential threat on the process of lie detection

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Simon Schindler
• Subject Area: Social Psychology, Industrial and Organisational Psychology
• Term: from 2017 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 396875163

In this research proposal, we address the question to what extent an existential threat affects the process of lie detection. We refer to assumptions of Terror Management Theory (TMT), which has been successfully been shown to explain human reactions on existential threats (such as terrorist attacks or general salience of the own mortality). According to TMT, cultural worldviews serves as a crucial anxiety buffer by giving life orientation, meaning and a sense of security. People under existential threat are therefore highly motivated to validate their own worldview and to defend it against attacks.Based on TMT and further findings on processes of lie detection, in this research project we develop and test a novel theoretical model. Referring to the effects of existential threat, the model distinguishes between a proximal (immediate reaction) and a distal level (reaction after delay). On a proximal level, we assume that existential threat has a positive effect on the ability to distinguish false from true statements (judgment accuracy) via processes of increased vigilance and deeper elaboration. On a distal level, we expect existential threat to affect response biases when judging the veracity of the statements (judgmental bias).In this research project, we intend to test these assumptions empirically. In Studies 1 to 4, we aim to show that, on a proximal level, existential indeed leads to increased judgment accuracy through increased vigilance and a linked deeper elaboration of relevant (especially content related) cues. Studies 5 to 9 investigate the idea that, on a distal level, existential threat increases response biases when making veracity judgments. Here, theoretically assumed moderators - such as personal worldview of the senders - play an important role: if these worldviews differ from the own worldview, being confronted with existential threat should increase the number of lie judgements. Conversely, we expect more truth judgments under existential threat, when the worldviews of the senders are in line with the own worldview.The central aim of this project is the development and empirical testing of a novel theoretical model on the influence of existential threat on the process of lie detection. Since this theoretical model also refers to forensic, police and security research domains, the project will be realized in cooperation with the Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Marc-André Reinhard (†)