Social Engineering Blogs

An Aggregator for Blogs About Social Engineering and Related Fields

Dr. David Matsumoto – NPR Interview

NPR’s ScienceFriday  has just released  their interview with Dr. David Matsumoto, Humintell’s Director, San Francisco State University psychology professor and microexpressions expert.

Dr. Matsumoto has been doing extensive research in the fields of Evaluating Truthfulness, Detecting Deception, Microexpressions (fleeting flashes of emotion that appear when someone is trying to conceal information) and Culture for many years.

He has worked with various government agencies and has contirbuted to numeous publications including the FBI Law Enforcement  Bulletin “Evaluating Truthfulness & Detecting Deception” and has been featured in various articles such as the New York Times’, Proud is Proud, Sighted or not, Reserachers Find.

During this interview Dr. Matsumoto points out that microexpressions are subtle cues that may reveal how an interview subject is feeling, which can aid officials in honing their line of questioning.

To LISTEN to the entire interview click here
What do you think of Dr. Matsumoto’s Interview? 

Is Anger Really Negative?

© Andrew Taylor | Dreamstime Stock Photos

The French Tribune.com reports on information from behavioral psychologists that says anger is simply a normal human feeling and can be very useful.

The article notes that there are two types of anger: constructive and de-constructive.  Constructive anger, just like the name notes, can be beneficial and keep us out of harm’s way.  However, de-constructive anger is usually misplaced and can cause damage to us and others.

According to behavioral psychologist Tafrate, getting angry often is deconstructive and harmful.  It can lead to damaged relationships, poor work performance and bad parenting.

There is also added health risks to deconstructive anger such as high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes.  However, anger can also be a motivator an attribute usually associated with a positive emotion.

In a past blog, Anger: Does it Motivate us?, from November of last year, Dr. Matsumoto noted that we should avoid labeling emotions as good or bad.

Emotions, including anger, are immediate, automatic, unconscious reactions to things that happen around us.  Many of us would probably agree that it’s not bad to feel anger towards someone who tries to steal your purse or harm you or your family.  It all depends on the context in which the emotion occurs.

So, next time your feeling your temperature rise, take a deep breath and use it to your advantage in a constructive way.

 What are your thoughts on Anger? 
Do you have some helpful tips you’d like to share ?

Emotions Change – Jodi Arias Update

In past blogs, Humintell has reported on the Jodi Arias case.  Our affiliates, Janine Driver and Susan Constantine, have dissected and commented on her verbal and nonverbal behaviors.

For those of you not familiar with the case, Jodi Arias, 32, was being tried for the murder of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander, which she claimed was self-defense.

Throughout her trial, Arias displayed poise, control and even some duping delight.  However, after months of lies and memory lapses, she has been found guilty of the first-degree murder of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander and is now revealing very different emotions.

Watch the video below to see Jodi’s emotional reaction to the verdict being read:

Click here to view the embedded video.

To view a close up of Arias’ face the moment she was found guilty click here.  

What emotions do you see ?