Yeah, here's an example: (please keep in mind that you must also take into account that different people remember things differently, long term memory is recalled differently by different people, and you must look at how they recall normal memories to determine their pattern of recalling. The eye movement opposite of memory is that of creation- got that here
http://www.pimall.com/nais/n.eyem.html .)
I DO think that the "eye movement" can be a significant indication...IF it
is attested to by several other indicators. But judgement and discernment are really
important here.
Here's why the eye-movement MAY be important.
It's all based on a science called, NLP, or Neuro Linguistic Programming.
Basically, WHICH direction the eyes moved and for WHAT questions is the key
here.
Here's a popular example: Often times, when we're trying to picture
something from our distant past, and find it difficult to remember, we'll
tend to lift our eyes up and to our left.
As an experiment, ask someone what the color of the first family car
was...or some other question that requires concentrating on the description
of an object/event in the distant past. I think you'll find that most
people will tend to look up and to their left as they think.
But this is just ONE eye-movement.
Ask the SAME person: "What does your ideal house of the future look like?",
and he'll likely look up(connecting with a visual impression) and to the
RIGHT, (looking forward) in time.
Now, using this example, suppose you were questioning a suspect as to
something you suspect he's observed.
If, in his response, he looks up and to the left, he may be more likely
trying to give a correct, accurate answer because the eye movements (to the
left means, generally, looking/hearing something from the past ot having an
internal conversation) would be consistent with the response you'd expect.
If he looks to the right (ahead in time), he may be trying to imagine what
his story would sound like to whoever's hearing it (in which case, he's
tend to look straight over to his right (auditory/imagining sound) rather
than up, which is a more "visual" connection.)
Does this make any sense at all??? I know this is all very confusing...
It's certainly far from an exact science, but I think it's absolutely
fascinating.
And it's also easy to be misled and sidetracked if you're mistaken.
See,here's the kicker: For some people, they do the exact opposite.
And I guess some just don't fall into either catagory.
Now, you said the interviewee looked to the side... Do you remember
specifically what the question was?
Sometimes it's natural to break off eye contact if one has to try to form
some kind of image in their head. This is done because the image of your
face is, subconsiously, distracting them, so they look away.
Did his eyes come to rest on something else? Did his eyes restlessy roam
the room?
Also, this person may be nervous around authority figures, and the "act" of
not looking you in the eye is more an introversive response than guilt. I'm
sure that's prevalent in several cultures.
According to NLP principles, it is possible that if he moved his eyes
directly to his left (indicates the brain is trying to auditory info from
the past) that he may have been trying to recall a conversation. Looking
directly to his right, he may be running his comments through his mind to
determine how he'll sound.
Confused yet???
My knowledge of the NLP is academic. I do use it as a tool, but it's
difficult to to.
There is so much to focus on during an interview that I don't want to risk
missing something more important because I wasn't focused.
Certainly if you have a video of the session, that would really help.
For ANYONE reading this, please feel free to comment.
Keith Walker
Discovery Services Insurance Investigation