Gaze behaviour and deception detection: Insights from an eye tracking analysis of interviewers and observers

This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential of eye-tracking for assessing how presuppositions about liars non-verbal behaviour relates to gaze behaviour when making deception judgments, and how presuppositions and gaze relate to accuracy. Participants (N=68) were interviewers or observers in a 2×2 design (face-to-face vs. video; active vs. passive roles). We tracked eye movements to facial and bodily areas and tested whether looking at specific areas was associated with judgement accuracy. Frequent fixation on legs and feet was associated with more accuracy, whereas focusing on the forehead was associated with lower accuracy. Although beliefs about gaze aversion influenced gaze behaviour, they did not enhance accuracy. These findings illustrate eye tracking as a promising method for investigating how people make deception judgements.