Educing Information: Interrogation - National Intelligence University

Nonverbal Communication
Human beings communicate a great deal by non-verbal means.
Skilled interrogators, for example, listen closely to voices and
learn a great deal from them. An interrogation is not merely a
verbal performance; it is a vocal performance, and the voice
projects tension, fear, a dislike of certain topics, and other
useful pieces of information. It is also helpful to watch the
subject’s mouth, which is as a rule much more revealing than
his eyes. Gestures and postures tell a story. If a subject normally
gesticulates broadly at times and is at other times physically
relaxed but at some point sits stiffly motionless, his posture
is likely to be the physical image of his mental tension. The
interrogator should make a mental note of the topic that caused
such a reaction. 69
The role of nonverbal cues in the communication process is almost universally
recognized. Some researchers (Mehrabian, 1971) have suggested that as much as
90% of communication is transmitted via nonverbal channels (i.e., gestures, vocal
modalities, etc.). At the same time, the underlying meaning of specific physical
gestures and vocal qualities seems subject to passionate debate. Crossing his
arms means he is closed and defiant! Her posture of leaning forward indicates
she is listening and engaged in the idea being presented to her. While the social
science literature is filled with numerous — and often conflicting — studies on
nonverbal communication, professionals who work in the interpersonal context
(e.g., counselors, salespersons, interrogators, etc.) often rely heavily upon their
understanding of nonverbal behavior to complete their work.
At a fundamental level, the process of “reading” body language is not unlike
that used in a polygraph examination. The critical first step is to establish a baseline
for the person being examined. Just as people show individual variation in blood
pressure and heart rate, people similarly exhibit dramatically different gestures and
voice inflections to supplement their verbal communications. Familial, regional,
and cultural background can have a significant influence on an individual’s
repertoire of nonverbal behaviors. At the same time, some researchers, most
notably Desmond Morris, suggest there are a number of gestures that consistently
communicate the same message across cultural and linguistic boundaries. 70
Parallel Worlds: Inside and Outside the Interrogation Room
The history of interrogation is full of confessions and other selfincriminations
that were in essence the result of a substitution
of the interrogation world for the world outside. In other words,
69
KUBARK, 54–55.
70
See, for example, Desmond Morris, Manwatching: A Field Guide to Human Behavior (1979) or
Bodytalk: The Meaning of Human Gestures (1995).
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