Navigating Body Language Signs: Compass or GPS?

This article examines the limitations of relying on body language as the primary guide during investigative interviews. Using the analogy of a compass versus GPS, it explains how small errors in interpreting nonverbal behavior can compound throughout an interview, leading investigators away from reliable information. The article argues that verbal content—including timelines, sensory details, contradictions, omissions, and verifiable facts—provides a more dependable foundation for evaluating statement reliability. Drawing on research and practical investigative experience, it emphasizes reducing cognitive load, avoiding unsupported assumptions, and focusing on information that can be documented, tested, and corroborated. The paper supports evidence-based investigative interviewing practices that improve statement reliability while reducing the risk of interviewer error and confirmation bias.