False Signals

Nonverbal Signals

Nonverbal signals accepted by a cultural group to have a particular meaning can be readily used as false signals. In the overarching American culture, there are many institutionalized nonverbal signals: white-tipped canes designate a blind or visually impaired person, blue lights flashing on a car mean that it is a law enforcement vehicle, and the wearing of scrubs in a hospital indicates that the wearer is an employee. Exhibiting any of these institutionalized signals infers a particular attached meaning. Thus, a person impersonating a police detective can display a false badge, which in turn will assist another to believe this imposture. False signals assist in deception, particularly when the signal has an accepted meaning.

The usefulness of false signals depends on their reliable meaning to all individuals involved. In other words, the individual displaying the false signal assumes that the other individual(s) will interpret the meaning in a specific manner. This is a fundamental aspect of false signals: The person attempting to deceive another via the use of a false signal(s) will choose a signal he or she assumes will be interpreted in a particular manner. Thus, when shifting from noninstitutionalized signals to other nonverbal signals it is imperative to choose signals that exhibit the meaning desired.

Nonverbal signals are interpreted in a variety of ways; a well-chosen false signal is readily understood in the manner meant to assist with deception. For example, a person wanting a friend to think that she is too sad to continue a conversation may let tears slide down her cheeks until the other ends the conversation; the con artist who wants a potential victim to think that he is infatuated with her may move closer on the sofa until he is resting his leg alongside hers from hip to knee; and the little sister who wants mommy to think that big brother hit her may sit right next to her brother and begin loudly screaming. All of these nonverbal signals are likely to be interpreted as the deceiver desired.

False Signals Sent Near-Simultaneously

A technique frequently used to solidify the meaning of a false signal is to near-simultaneously send a variety of false signals that agree with each other. To illustrate, note the false signals could be added to the above examples: The sad person would let the tears flow, grab for a tissue, put their hands to their face, and mix hiccups into their attempts at conversation; the con artist might sit close, lean in to the victim, put his arm around her waist, and rest his hand on the curve of her waist; and while the child screams, she might begin to cry while pointing at her brother. In each example, a near-simultaneous multitude of false signals is displayed by the deceiver, all in an attempt to encourage a particular interpretation of the social situation.

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