Perceptions of Movement Patterns and Concealment Detection in Naive Observers and Law Enforcement Officers: A Lens Model Analysis

Abstract

This research investigates whether police officers can reliably use behavioral cues to determine whether a person is concealing an object. Using a Lens Model framework, we performed a mega-analysis of three experiments. In each study, officers and laypersons judged whether people were concealing an object and reported “articulable behaviors” they used to perform this task. Although participants were able to articulate behaviors that they believed were helpful, results showed that these behaviors were not related to whether the person was actually concealing. Officers and laypersons were equally poor at judging whether someone was concealing or not. Current officer training on the use of nonverbal behaviors to determine who is concealing a dangerous object may be ineffective, and a reconsideration of training is warranted. In light of the findings, requiring officers to provide “articulable behaviors” in Fourth Amendment cases may not provide a sufficient safeguard against unreasonable searches of civilians.