Forensic Psychology & Lie Detection
The National Workshop on Psychology & Lie Detection “SAACH – A TRUTH” was conducted on 8 September 2019, at the International Youth Hostel, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi in order to make the masses aware of the implications and utility of the subject. This workshop has been organized by the Capability Development Institute in association with Sherlock Institute of Forensic Science India, Clue4 Evidence Forensic Lab, Bangalore & International Association of Scientists and Researchers.
Forensic Psychology is said to be the combination of both law and psychology, and plays a significant role in understanding behaviours and preventing crimes. It deals with all the aspects of psychology that are relevant to the legal and criminal process as a whole. It includes explanations of criminal behaviour and criminality, including the role of mental disorder in crime and discuss how forensic psychology contributes to help investigate the crime and catch the perpetrators.
This workshop based on forensic psychology was organized in order to make applicants understand how the profiles of criminals are assessed; furthermore, the workshop included the process of lie detection, its utility and the legal implications. Mr. Phaneendar B N (CEO, Clue4 Evidence, Bengaluru – Forensic Expert), Dr. Chandni Srinivasan (Forensic Psychologist) and Dr. Ranjeet Singh (CEO, SIFS India – Forensic Expert) were the speakers for the workshop having expertise in their respective arena.
The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Ranjeet Kr Singh, CEO SIFS India soon after which the sessions were started.
Mr. Phaneendar B N took the beginning session wherein he spoke about the theory of lie detection and the perspectives of its legal implications. He also discussed about the elements of lie detection by detailing about the body language, Eye contact, Micro expressions, Statement Analysis, Polygraph, Voice Stress Analysis and Narco analysis, Brain Mapping/ Brain Fingerprinting; furthermore, he covered various skills required while performing lie detection i.e. attention to details, good listening skills, good communication skills and command over the native language.
Professor Adarsh Kumar from AIIMS, New Delhi, Mr. Mahesh Sharma (Forensic Expert SIFS India), Mr. Durgesh Pandey (Forensic Expert SIFS India) and Mr. Aakash Rawat (Forensic Expert, SIFS India, Prayagraj) were present in the National Workshop on Psychology and Lie Detection.
To prove the lie detection test with the legal aspects, he also stated about the Article 20 (3) where “No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself”. He also justified the legal implications with the famous case Selvi V/S State of Karnataka.
The next session was taken by Dr. Chandni Srinivasan. She started her session with the brief discussion of what Psychology is? And how human nature or personality is based on childhood experiences which was backed by Freud’s theory. This continued with explanation about structure and functions of brain and coordination between brain and behaviour. For the purpose of in-depth understanding she asked all the participants to fill the worksheet containing 35 questions which were related to their own personality allowing everyone to first analyse themselves. She also discussed about the human behaviour which varies from person to person and each has a certain psychological goals that needs to be met.
Post lunch session was more of a practical representation of what has been explained in the first session. Mr. Phaneendar asked for a volunteer among the participants, wherein he showed how eye movements varies from question to question. Movement of eye towards right meant lying and toward left meant truth, which also had sub categories to it for example: construction of lie via image or sound or on the basis of kinaesthetic sensation or telling the truth by remembrance via image, sound or self-talk. In the post tea-session, practical of lie-detection with help of voice micrograph was demonstrated. A volunteer was called from the attendees where mixed questions (Control question, relevant question, irrelevant question and concealed questions) were asked to her and on the basis of her responses it was checked whether or not she had cheated in her examination. This was later explained by him in details.
The session was carried forward by Dr. Chandni Srinivasan where she discussed about criminal profiling and Prison Counselling. She shared her experience with the participants and also discussed about famous World Trade Attack 9/11.
The end session was taken by Dr. Ranjeet Singh. He took an activity- “window to self” wherein participants were asked to choose one among two given choices in the image form and to those choices scores were given and at the end of the test total was counted and final score was calculated from which the personality traits were revealed. These traits were based on various score ranges. According to their score range, their personality traits were discovered and participants were able to understand hidden qualities of their own personality based on their choices. The entire session was an interactive one as the participants were able to ask and clarify their doubts as well as analyse their personality from their own likes and dislikes.
The feedback was taken from all the participants in a questionnaire form wherein they were asked several questions including opinion about the objective of the workshop, participation and interaction, relevancy of the topic to the workshop theme, quality of the material, time allocation of each topic, speaker’s knowledge on the topic, and overall workshop experience. With this they were also asked for the suggestions for improvement. As per the feedback analysis, participants were found satisfied with the workshop as it was totally hands on based and they were asked to take part actively in the activity based sessions which made them understand even better. Few participants also admitted that this workshop have proven more beneficial to them than many others they have attended before. Few suggestions were also given by the participants in order to improve certain things to achieve excellence in future events. Feedback review in the form of video was also recorded. Wherein the positive responses were received that definitely has motivated us to do even better in coming events that we would be organizing in the near future.
A total of 56 participants from various national universities such as Amity University Noida, NIMS University, Bundelkhand University, Galgotias University, SHUATS Allahabad, Kurukshetra University, Banaras Hindu University, Maharshi Dayanand University and colleges from all over India including National PG College, Arya Vidyapeeth College, St. John’s Academy Delhi, Institute of Forensic Science Nagpur, Institute of Forensic Science Mumbai, National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science and few from International universities including Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge, UK & University of Manchester, UK participated in the workshop. Not only universities and colleges but also several prestigious organizations such as IIRIS Security Solutions, Seabird Logisolutions, IndusInd Bank, FIL India Business and Research Services Private Limited and Ciena Corporation participated in the workshop.
With the successful completion of all the informative sessions, the speakers were felicitated with memento and certificate as a token of appreciation by the chief guest Prof. Adarsh Kumar.
After the speaker’s felicitation, our respectable guests were felicitated for giving their valuable time and for being an active listener throughout all the sessions; further, all the participants were awarded with a certificate and those who actively participated and volunteered in the activities and practical sessions were also appreciated with the set of Grapho-cards.
The workshop was ended with the vote of thanks and with the appreciation of all the speakers, guests and of course our valuable participants.