Chapter 7
Interpersonal Deception
Theory
Griffin, E. (2006). A first look at
communication theory (6th ed.).
Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Interpersonal Deception Theory
 David Buller & Judee Burgoon, 1996
 Summary
Types of Deception
 Falsification
 Concealment
 Equivocation
 These three messages all fall under the
umbrella of deception.
Two Core Ideas…
 18 propositions, summed in 2 core ideas:
 Interpersonal communication is interactive
 Strategic deception demands mental effort
 Leakage
Characteristics of Deception
 Lies are judged effective on the basis of
motives, not the lie itself
 Message needs to manage 3 things:
 Accomplishing the task
 Establishing/maintaining the relationship
 “saving face”
Characteristics, cont’d
 Signs of deceptive messages:
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Uncertainty/vagueness
Nonimmediacy, reticence, and withdrawal
Disassociation
Image- and relaitonship-protecting behavior
Leakage
 Interpersonal deception theory adopts
Zuckerman’s four-factor model of
deception
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Control
Arousal
Emotions
Cognitive factors
Leakage, cont’d
 Typical leakage:
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Self-adaptors
Blinking, large pupils
Speech errors
Speech hesitations
Higher voice pitch
More differences b/w verbals and nonverbals
The Respondent/Receiver
 Truth bias
 Suspicion
Deceiver’s Adjustment to Suspicion
 Interactional
 Deceiver’s more accurate in detecting
suspicion
 Modify behavior to instill trust
 Truth-tellers do the same
Critique
 Too complicated?
 Very practical theory