Oral Presentation: Verbal cues to deception in autistic mock-suspects

Title: Verbal cues to deception in autistic mock-suspects

Abstract:

Investigative interviews present significant social and cognitive challenges to autistic people. Autistic witnesses often provide less detailed and accurate information during interviews than typically developing (TD) comparisons. Autistic suspects may similarly struggle to provide such information, leaving them susceptible to appearing deceptive. However, there is currently a lack of research to guide investigative interviewing and veracity judgements with autistic suspects. The present study aims to address these gaps in the literature. Thirty autistic and 30 TD adults (IQs > 85) were randomly assigned to a mock-crime (guilty) or non-criminal (innocent) task in an immersive virtual city environment. Subsequently, participants were instructed to attempt to convince a mock-investigative interviewer of their innocence in the crime. Data collection is in the final stages. Inferential statistical analyses will test whether (i) autistic adults’ deceptive statements display verbal cues consistent with those of TD adults; and (ii) autistic suspects’ truthful statements inadvertently display verbal deception cues (e.g., contradicting available evidence and containing less investigation-relevant information). Analysis of participants’ post-interview questionnaire responses will examine interview experience (e.g., whether autistic adults experience greater levels of anxiety and difficulty understanding questions). Findings will have implications for interviewing autistic suspects, as well as for understanding deception in autism.