Effects of existential threat on the process of lie detection

存在威胁对测谎过程的影响

• 批准号: 396875163
• 负责人: Dr. Simon Schindler
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Fachgebiet Sozialpsychologie
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2016-12-31 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/396875163?language=en
• 关键词: Effects; existential; threat; process; lie

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.

在这项研究中，我们解决的问题在多大程度上存在的威胁影响测谎的过程。我们指的是恐怖管理理论（TMT）的假设，它已被成功地证明可以解释人类对生存威胁的反应（如恐怖袭击或自身死亡率的普遍显著性）。TMT认为，文化世界观通过赋予生活方向、意义和安全感，起到了重要的焦虑缓冲作用。因此，处于生存威胁之下的人们会有很高的动机来验证自己的世界观，并保护自己的世界观免受攻击。基于TMT和测谎过程的进一步发现，在本研究项目中，我们开发并测试了一个新的理论模型。关于存在威胁的影响，该模型区分了近端（即时反应）和远端水平（延迟后的反应）。在近端水平上，我们假设存在威胁通过提高警惕和更深入的阐述对区分真假陈述（判断准确性）的能力有积极的影响。在远端层面上，我们预期存在威胁会影响判断陈述真实性时的反应偏差（判断偏差）。在研究1至4中，我们的目标是表明，在近端水平上，存在确实会通过提高警惕和相关（特别是内容相关）线索的相关更深层次的阐述来提高判断准确性。研究5到9调查了这样一个想法，即在远端水平上，存在威胁会增加做出真实性判断时的反应偏差。在这里，理论上假设的调节者--例如发送者的个人世界观--发挥着重要作用：如果这些世界观与自己的世界观不同，那么面临生存威胁应该会增加谎言判断的数量。相反，我们期望更多的真理判断存在威胁下，当世界观的人是符合自己的世界观。本项目的中心目标是发展和实证检验的一个新的理论模型的存在威胁的影响测谎过程。由于这一理论模型也涉及法医、警察和安全研究领域，该项目将与德国警察学院合作实施。