Sender Ethnicity Differences in Lie Detection Accuracy and Confidence

Abstract

We examined sender ethnicity difference in lie detection accuracy by using stimuli obtained in a 2 (Senders’ Ethnicity: Asian vs. European-American) x 2 (Veracity Condition: Lie vs. Truth) x 3 (Interview Type) factorial experiment involving a mock crime. European American receivers judged whether the sender was telling the truth or lying and rated their confidence in each video. Only one significant difference was found: Asian senders were judged more accurately than European American senders. Also, the European American receivers were more confident when judging European American senders, but confidence was not related to deception detection. We concluded that an ingroup-outgroup effect did not exist on deception detection but did exist for confidence ratings.