True and false intentions: Can the concept of "episodic future thoughts" help to discriminate?

Abstract: In legal settings it is important to be able to assess the veracity of statements provided by suspects, witnesses and alleged victims. This is why there is a large body of literature on deception detection (Vrij 2008; Granhag & Strömwall, 2004). However, virtually all research within this field has focused on methods for discriminating between truthful and deceptive statements about past actions. The lack of research focused on future actions is quite remarkable considering the societal value resulting from an improved accuracy to detect criminal intentions (i.e., illegal actions planned, but not yet committed). In a first step towards theory-driven research on true and false intentions, it is suggested that the emerging concept of ‘episodic future thoughts’ (EFT) might be helpful. Study I tested how lying and truth telling subjects described the mental image they experienced while planning their future actions. Half of the subjects – referred to as the liars - planned a mock criminal act (placing a memory stick containing illegal material on a particular shelf in a shop in a mall), whereas the remaining half of the subjects – referred to as the truth tellers - planned a non-criminal act (shopping for gifts in the same mall). Truth tellers were instructed to tell the truth whereas liars were instructed to hide their criminal intentions by using a coverstory. The predictions were tested by analyzing the verbal statements given during the interview(s) and by subjective ratings that the suspects provided in a follow-up post-interview questionnaire. The results showed that significantly more truth tellers (97%) reported to have had a mental image activated during the planning phase than liars (66%). If a mental image was reported during the interview, truth tellers (vs. liars) used more words to describe it. Moreover, the subjective self-ratings after the interview revealed that truth tellers perceived their mental image clearer than liars (e.g., temporal order, or the position of other persons). Study II tested whether lying and truth telling subjects differed in terms of consistency over repeated interviews when describing the mental image. In addition, it tested to what extent the promising findings of Study I could be replicated. As in Study I, the results showed that - when looking at both interview occasions - significantly more truth tellers (93%) reported a mental image than liars (71%). In contrast to Study I, liars used as many words to describe their mental image during the interview(s) as truth tellers. The subjective self-ratings revealed fewer significant differences between liars and truth tellers in comparison to Study I. As expected, the results in terms of the consistency showed that truth tellers (vs. liars) used more repetitions when describing the mental image. In contrast, both groups used an equally high number of commissions. This thesis presents research on some typical trademarks accompanying true and false intentions and this is done by testing some basic features (Study I) and the consistency of statements (Study II). The two studies presented may contribute to an increased understanding of true and false intentions, and which role the concept of ‘episodic future thoughts’ (EFT) might play in this context.