FAQs
LSAT: REVEALING THE LANGUAGE OF DECEPTION
Is LSAT the same as handwriting analysis?
No, LSAT is not handwriting analysis. Handwriting analysis involves either comparing one hand-written document to another or examining unique physical characteristics of an individual’s handwriting that reveal details about the person who wrote it.
LSAT examines “what” the person wrote (content) and the manner in which they wrote it (structure). Unlike handwriting analysis, LSAT does not require a statement to be handwritten since it is examining the content rather than the style. Handwriting analysis and LSAT reveal different facets of a person’s statement, LSAT being much more revealing and useful, although both are valuable in filling a void in investigations.
Is LSAT a method of reading body language?
No, LSAT is not directly related to body language. Body language teaches students to recognize deception in physiological responses such as pupil dilation, pore size, skin flush, muscle tone changes, breathing, etc. LSAT teaches how to recognize deception manifested in linguistic responses. The physiological and linguistic responses probably originate in the same place, but become outwardly recognizable in totally different places: one in bodily responses, the other in language.
The benefit of LSAT over body language is that body language does not deal with information. While both can detect deception, only LSAT can reveal what the deception is because the reality behind their deception is revealed in their language.
Will I learn how to interview or interrogate people with LSAT training?
LSAT is not an interview technique, but interviewing/interrogating strategy is covered in LSAT training courses. Interview and interrogation training revolves around learning “What questions should I ask?”. LSAT training revolves around “How do I deal with information the person has given me?”
LSAT student learn quickly that there is only one elementary question to ask to gain information to gain the truth: “Tell me what happened.” From this question, victims, suspects and witnesses all will provide the information the analyst needs to reveal the truth, even if someone doesn’t realize it or thinks they have concealed it.
How do I use LSAT to solve crimes?
LSAT allows an investigator to know prior to an interview or advanced investigation, whether the author of the statement is deceptive or truthful and in both cases reveals significant additional, hidden information the author did not realize they included that nearly always sheds a different, light on their story.
Instead of an investigator having to examine and question the veracity of every facet of someone’s story beginning to end as in a traditional investigation, LSAT allows them to know EXACTLY where the deception lies and attack it directly. In the guilty person, this creates guilt feelings and anxiety, bringing them much more quickly and easily to a point of confession. It prevents hit-and-miss interviewing and saves countless hours of frustration.
What is the foundation on which LSAT works?
Simply stated, LSAT determines whether or not a story was generated from a person’s memory (truthful) or from other sources (deceptive). When a story is the result of someone recalling completely from memory, it takes on specific traits and characteristics. When a story is altered or misrepresented (deceptive), it takes on different and easily identified traits.
Secondly, deceptive stories are based in truth but become deceptive when the author omits critical, incriminating information. LSAT identifies the linguistic signals that indicate the story is missing critical information that was intentionally omitted, which makes it deceptive. The story is the truth, but not the whole truth.
Does LSAT have limitations or times where it is not applicable?
LSAT has no limitations in terms of the type or nature of the crime being investigated. All crimes and misconduct can be investigated using the LSAT technique.
LSAT can be somewhat time-consuming, depending on the circumstances. In cases where a crime may be in-progress, there may not be sufficient time to apply LSAT to its full potential. However, the basic concepts can be applied even during a brief, hurried verbal interview.
Additionally, to be highly competent, LSAT requires that the user put aside traditional thought processes during investigations and trust the LSAT analysis results rather than their instincts and personal logic. This can be difficult, but with practice, LSAT analysts come to realize it is more dependable than their logic and instincts.
Further, LSAT takes practice. Like any skill, if it isn’t used it is lost or weakened. The best analysts find a steady source of statements on which they can apply their LSAT skills regularly. LSAT provides students with access to previously analyzed statements on the website on which they can practice their LSAT skills and compare their findings with those of the experts.
How much time does it take to analyze a statement?
It depends on the skill level of the analyst and the length of the statement. The analysis process itself may take only a few minutes. The examination and interpretation of the findings of the analysis can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Generally, a beginning LSAT analyst can produce a finished analysis and report in less than one hour.
What is the evidentiary value of LSAT?
LSAT guides an investigation and reveals both informative evidence as well as the existence of physical evidence much the same way a polygraph examination does. The analysis results themselves are not generally admissible in court as evidence. In other words, LSAT results are not probable cause for an arrest but are definitely valuable in establishing probable cause during an interview/interrogation and in revealing the existence of physical evidence.
How long does it take to learn LSAT and how long before I am competent at the skill?
LSAT Basic training is a 24 hour block conducted over a three day period. The Advanced LSAT is 16 hours in length. Students leave the class with a good, useable working knowledge of the skills, but require on-going practice and feedback, both of which are provided by LSAT. Generally, with regular practice, students develop into a dependable, credible analyst within just a few statements.
How reliable is LSAT?
There is considerable research that suggests the concepts upon which LSAT is based, is valid, accurate, and tested. The linguistic, psychological, emotional, and intellectual foundations and studies that led to the development of LSAT go back decades to the 1920’s. The FBI depends on statement analysis techniques as well as countless local, federal and international investigative agencies.
All that said, the proof of LSAT validity is empirical. That is, “the proof is in the pudding”. The credibility and validity of LSAT comes with using it. When one experiences success with LSAT, it builds credibility and confidence in the technique.
One independent study directed at determining the validity of statement analysis found it to be an average of 92% accurate in the combined determination of deception and truthfulness when conducted by a competent analyst. This is actually a higher validity than that of polygraph examinations which are generally about 85%.
How LSAT Works
The LSAT analyst uses our validated, researched technique to search the statement much like a crime scene. They locate "language evidence" that is associated with deception. The liar uses unique wording, phrasing, content, structure and quantities of information that reveal not only if they did it but also, when, why and how they did it.
Our Services
Training is not really training unless it incorporates effective adult educational techniques that maximize learning: Hearing, Seeing, Assisting, and Doing. LSAT training effectively incorporates lecture, demonstration, the clarification of questions, assisted practice, and demonstrating proficiency. But there is more to our teaching strategy.
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