CFI Statement Analysis & Verbal Behavior 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In verbal behavior analysis, 'paralinguistic cues' include which of the following?
- The specific words and vocabulary chosen by a subject
- Grammatical structure and sentence formation patterns
- Voice quality, pitch, rate of speech, and pauses (Correct answer)
- Gestures and facial expressions accompanying speech
Correct answer: Voice quality, pitch, rate of speech, and pauses
Paralinguistic cues are the non-verbal aspects of speech—including tone, pitch, pace, volume, and pauses—that convey meaning beyond the literal words used.
Question 2: Cognitive load theory applied to deception research suggests that deceptive individuals may exhibit:
- Slower speech, longer pauses, and shorter responses (Correct answer)
- Faster speech and fewer pauses than truthful subjects
- No measurable verbal differences from truthful individuals
- More elaborate and detailed accounts than truthful subjects
Correct answer: Slower speech, longer pauses, and shorter responses
Cognitive load theory holds that fabricating a false account demands greater mental resources than recalling a true one, which may manifest as slower speech, increased pauses, and less detailed responses.
Question 3: A subject consistently uses first-person pronouns throughout their statement but drops them in two specific passages, describing actions in passive voice instead. This pattern MOST likely indicates:
- A grammatical habit with no investigative relevance
- Possible psychological distancing from those specific events or actions (Correct answer)
- The subject was dictating the statement and lost their train of thought
- Confirmation that those passive-voice sections are the most truthful
Correct answer: Possible psychological distancing from those specific events or actions
Dropping first-person pronouns in favor of passive constructions creates psychological distancing and is a recognized statement analysis indicator of potential deception or discomfort with specific events.
Question 4: The Statement Validity Assessment (SVA) methodology is composed of which three components?
- PEACE model, CBCA, and polygraph integration
- Structured interview, CBCA, and a Validity Checklist (Correct answer)
- Cognitive interview, narrative analysis, and reliability scoring
- SCAN, behavioral analysis, and court testimony review
Correct answer: Structured interview, CBCA, and a Validity Checklist
SVA consists of a structured interview to obtain the statement, Criteria-Based Content Analysis (CBCA) to evaluate its content, and a Validity Checklist to rule out alternative explanations.
Question 5: When a subject refers to another individual with a pronoun throughout their statement but switches to using that person's first name in two specific passages, this change MOST likely reflects:
- An error indicating the subject fabricated those passages
- An attempt to create confusion in the interviewer's notes
- Heightened emotional significance or psychological closeness in those passages (Correct answer)
- Standard variation in language use with no analytical significance
Correct answer: Heightened emotional significance or psychological closeness in those passages
Changes in how a subject refers to another person can signal shifts in psychological proximity or emotional significance; using a name where a pronoun was used suggests heightened engagement in that area.
Question 6: In statement analysis, 'outsider terminology'—referring to oneself in the third person when recounting personal actions—is MOST often associated with:
- Cultural communication norms that should not be analyzed
- Psychological distancing from the events or actions described (Correct answer)
- Superior memory for events due to objective self-perspective
- Evidence that the subject is reporting events witnessed rather than experienced
Correct answer: Psychological distancing from the events or actions described
Using third-person self-references (e.g., 'John didn't mean to do it' when John is the speaker) creates psychological distance between the subject and their actions, often signaling discomfort or deception.
Question 7: In CBCA, the 'superfluous details' criterion refers to:
- Irrelevant background information provided to confuse the interviewer
- Extraneous information volunteered beyond what was asked, suggesting genuine recall (Correct answer)
- Details that contradict the main narrative and signal fabrication
- Sensory descriptions that exceed what would be possible to recall accurately
Correct answer: Extraneous information volunteered beyond what was asked, suggesting genuine recall
Superfluous details are extraneous information a subject volunteers beyond the scope of the question, considered a positive credibility indicator because fabricators typically stick to their prepared narrative.
CFI Statement Analysis & Verbal Behavior 2
In verbal behavior analysis, 'paralinguistic cues' include which of the following?