TSA behavior detection program
Apr 25, 2016 | 9:38 am
#301
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 396
This was a mock customs inspection in which travellers were given fake contraband, and judgments of their behavior were made by customs inspectors versus "laymen." Behavior predicted if a passenger would be searched, not that he or she was carrying contraband:
My research and the research of many other scientists found that when theres a lot to lose (death or imprisonment) emotions are generated which are very hard to conceal and often leak out in what I call micro-expressions. The SPOT personnel are trained to identify these and many other signs of emotional overload. When there is not only the threat of dire punishment for failure but great reward promised for success whether it be money or 72 virgins it puts a lot of pressure on people's ability to think, producing cognitive overload, and subtle changes in speech. The SPOT people are trained to detect the subtle signs of emotional and cognitive overload. Of course they didnt catch the play-actors. They had nothing to lose and nothing to gain if their bombs were detected. There was no cognitive or emotional overload. I am all for testing it, but lets not do it in such a shoddy, half-baked, invalid fashion.
Apr 25, 2016 | 10:07 am
#302
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Wouldn't TSA response be "Well there is a sign when you enter the queue that informs you of screening will take place." I know that has been a legal standard for many years when reviewing airport screening, consent, and the 4th Amendment - that standard being was the individual on notice that screening was occurring. So I would agree that BDO questions is a form of screening.
Paul Eckman wrote something recently that "mock" situations do not provide an accurate view of things.
Paul Eckman wrote something recently that "mock" situations do not provide an accurate view of things.
My research and the research of many other scientists found that when theres a lot to lose (death or imprisonment) emotions are generated which are very hard to conceal and often leak out in what I call micro-expressions. The SPOT personnel are trained to identify these and many other signs of emotional overload. When there is not only the threat of dire punishment for failure but great reward promised for success whether it be money or 72 virgins it puts a lot of pressure on people's ability to think, producing cognitive overload, and subtle changes in speech. The SPOT people are trained to detect the subtle signs of emotional and cognitive overload. Of course they didnt catch the play-actors. They had nothing to lose and nothing to gain if their bombs were detected. There was no cognitive or emotional overload. I am all for testing it, but lets not do it in such a shoddy, half-baked, invalid fashion.
Apr 25, 2016 | 2:17 pm
#303
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,424
1. Ekman declined to release his data for peer review.
2. Charles Honts PhD at the University of Utah attempted to replicate Ekman's findings. It didn't work.
Ekman's research was undisputed until Lisa Feldman Barrett PhD at Northeastern showed Ekman's design. He asked subjects to select from six discrete emotions. When subjects were asked to identify emotions without discrete categories, they were inconsistent.
Ekman argued that he couldn't share his findings because his research could fall into the hands of foreign powers.
We need science. That means robust study design, data, peer review, and replicated results.
2. Charles Honts PhD at the University of Utah attempted to replicate Ekman's findings. It didn't work.
Ekman's research was undisputed until Lisa Feldman Barrett PhD at Northeastern showed Ekman's design. He asked subjects to select from six discrete emotions. When subjects were asked to identify emotions without discrete categories, they were inconsistent.
Ekman argued that he couldn't share his findings because his research could fall into the hands of foreign powers.
We need science. That means robust study design, data, peer review, and replicated results.
Apr 25, 2016 | 2:41 pm
#304
Join Date: Jan 2014
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No, a theory is something that is provable through evidence and repeatable testing, like evolution or gravity. What you're talking about barely meets the definition of a hypothesis.
Apr 25, 2016 | 2:58 pm
#305
Join Date: Feb 2007
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And even according to Eckman's own criteria his defense is idiotic. Of course the testers have something riding on the outcome. If there's actually a terrorist threat and behavioral detection is real, they want to make sure it's done right and what's riding on the outcome is the safety of their country. Another benefit to them personally is doing a good job and winning a game. Like poker.
Eckman's a dowser saying that any testing process messes up the conditions needed for dowsing.
Apr 26, 2016 | 11:00 am
#306
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 962
FWIW:
1. TSA's BDO training manual specifically says that pax have the constitutional right to not answer questions. It doesn't dwell on that very much, though. And it does say that SPOTting starts in the pre-TDC line itself — it's even called "walk the line".
2. Ekman's the reason why I went into cogsci / cogneuro to begin with. His early work was great. I find it really sad that he's stopped doing real peer-reviewed science since then. Hell, his earlier work explicitly contradicts SPOT; it was very clear that even accurate emotion recognition cannot tell if someone is lying or not, let alone without a baseline for that specific person, because emotional reactions have all sorts of causes.
1. TSA's BDO training manual specifically says that pax have the constitutional right to not answer questions. It doesn't dwell on that very much, though. And it does say that SPOTting starts in the pre-TDC line itself — it's even called "walk the line".
2. Ekman's the reason why I went into cogsci / cogneuro to begin with. His early work was great. I find it really sad that he's stopped doing real peer-reviewed science since then. Hell, his earlier work explicitly contradicts SPOT; it was very clear that even accurate emotion recognition cannot tell if someone is lying or not, let alone without a baseline for that specific person, because emotional reactions have all sorts of causes.
Apr 26, 2016 | 11:24 am
#307
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FWIW:
1. TSA's BDO training manual specifically says that pax have the constitutional right to not answer questions. It doesn't dwell on that very much, though. And it does say that SPOTting starts in the pre-TDC line itself it's even called "walk the line".
2. Ekman's the reason why I went into cogsci / cogneuro to begin with. His early work was great. I find it really sad that he's stopped doing real peer-reviewed science since then. Hell, his earlier work explicitly contradicts SPOT; it was very clear that even accurate emotion recognition cannot tell if someone is lying or not, let alone without a baseline for that specific person, because emotional reactions have all sorts of causes.
1. TSA's BDO training manual specifically says that pax have the constitutional right to not answer questions. It doesn't dwell on that very much, though. And it does say that SPOTting starts in the pre-TDC line itself it's even called "walk the line".
2. Ekman's the reason why I went into cogsci / cogneuro to begin with. His early work was great. I find it really sad that he's stopped doing real peer-reviewed science since then. Hell, his earlier work explicitly contradicts SPOT; it was very clear that even accurate emotion recognition cannot tell if someone is lying or not, let alone without a baseline for that specific person, because emotional reactions have all sorts of causes.
Apr 26, 2016 | 11:56 am
#309
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
FWIW:
1. TSA's BDO training manual specifically says that pax have the constitutional right to not answer questions. It doesn't dwell on that very much, though. And it does say that SPOTting starts in the pre-TDC line itself it's even called "walk the line".
2. Ekman's the reason why I went into cogsci / cogneuro to begin with. His early work was great. I find it really sad that he's stopped doing real peer-reviewed science since then. Hell, his earlier work explicitly contradicts SPOT; it was very clear that even accurate emotion recognition cannot tell if someone is lying or not, let alone without a baseline for that specific person, because emotional reactions have all sorts of causes.
1. TSA's BDO training manual specifically says that pax have the constitutional right to not answer questions. It doesn't dwell on that very much, though. And it does say that SPOTting starts in the pre-TDC line itself it's even called "walk the line".
2. Ekman's the reason why I went into cogsci / cogneuro to begin with. His early work was great. I find it really sad that he's stopped doing real peer-reviewed science since then. Hell, his earlier work explicitly contradicts SPOT; it was very clear that even accurate emotion recognition cannot tell if someone is lying or not, let alone without a baseline for that specific person, because emotional reactions have all sorts of causes.
Apr 26, 2016 | 12:19 pm
#311
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
TSA is still pimping the SPOT program to other entities:
Pimping SPOT
Pimping SPOT
TSA is working to expand its First Observer national security awareness program later this fall. Under the new name of First Observer Plus, the program will train surface transportation professionals to be alert and to observe, assess and report indicators of potential terrorist activity that may target any of the various modes of surface transportation.
Apr 26, 2016 | 1:22 pm
#312
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Apr 26, 2016 | 1:28 pm
#313
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Apr 26, 2016 | 2:04 pm
#314
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SEA
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To keep from getting scared of having my innermost secrets detected by the diligent and wise behavior detection officers, I do what I always do whenever I feel afraid:
I hold my head erect
And whistle a happy tune
So no one will suspect I'm afraid.
I hold my head erect
And whistle a happy tune
So no one will suspect I'm afraid.
Apr 26, 2016 | 2:16 pm
#315
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behavior.