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For security and justice professionals, the thousands of peer-reviewed articles on nonverbal communication represent important sources of knowledge. However, despite the scope of the scientific work carried out on this subject, professionals can turn to programs, methods and approaches that fail to reflect the state of science. The objective of this article is to examine (i) concepts of nonverbal communication conveyed by these programs, methods and approaches, but also (ii) the consequences of their use. To achieve this objective, we describe the scope of scientific research on nonverbal communication. A program (SPOT; “Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques”), a method (the BAI; “Behavior Analysis Interview”) and an approach (synergology) that each run counter to the state of science are examined. Finally, we outline five hypotheses to explain why some organizations in the fields of security and justice are turning to pseudoscience and pseudoscientific techniques.

For security and justice professionals, the thousands of peer-reviewed articles on nonverbal communication represent important sources of knowledge. However, despite the scope of the scientific work carried out on this subject, professionals can turn to programs, methods and approaches that fail to reflect the state of science. The objective of this article is to examine (i) concepts of nonverbal communication conveyed by these programs, methods and approaches, but also (ii) the consequences of their use. To achieve this objective, we describe the scope of scientific research on nonverbal communication. A program (SPOT; “Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques”), a method (the BAI; “Behavior Analysis Interview”) and an approach (synergology) that each run counter to the state of science are examined. Finally, we outline five hypotheses to explain why some organizations in the fields of security and justice are turning to pseudoscience and pseudoscientific techniques.

For security and justice professionals, the thousands of peer-reviewed articles on nonverbal communication represent important sources of knowledge. However, despite the scope of the scientific work carried out on this subject, professionals can turn to programs, methods and approaches that fail to reflect the state of science. The objective of this article is to examine (i) concepts of nonverbal communication conveyed by these programs, methods and approaches, but also (ii) the consequences of their use. To achieve this objective, we describe the scope of scientific research on nonverbal communication. A program (SPOT; “Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques”), a method (the BAI; “Behavior Analysis Interview”) and an approach (synergology) that each run counter to the state of science are examined. Finally, we outline five hypotheses to explain why some organizations in the fields of security and justice are turning to pseudoscience and pseudoscientific techniques.

Les partisans de la synergologie la considèrent comme une discipline scientifique. Mais l’unique publication révisée par les pairs (Turchet, 2013) comporte des lacunes (utilisation inadaptée de la littérature scientifique pour justifier les arguments, biais méthodologiques). Par ailleurs, des astuces rhétoriques sont utilisées afin de présenter certains résultats comme validant les hypothèses. Ainsi, la synergologie n’a que l’apparence d’une discipline scientifique et l’absence de théories et validations fiables la classe inévitablement comme une pseudo-science. Cette analyse est discutée en termes d’utilisation de pseudo-sciences dans le système judiciaire et de leur impact lors de procès. Des recommandations sont formulées pour que les professionnels puissent les identifier., Synergology’s supporters consider it as a scientific discipline. But the unique peer-reviewed publication (Turchet, 2013) contains gaps (including the improper use of scientific literature to justify arguments, or methodological biases). Moreover, rhetorical fallacies are used to present results that appear to confirm the hypotheses. That is why synergology only has the appearance of a scientific discipline, and the absence of reliable validations combined with an imperfect theoretical model inevitably classifies it as a pseudoscience. This analysis is discussed in terms of use of pseudosciences in the judicial system and their impact during trials. Recommendations are made so that professionals can identify them.

[EN]For security and justice professionals (e.g., police officers, lawyers, judges), the thousands of peer-reviewed articles on nonverbal communication represent important sources of knowledge. However, despite the scope of the scientific work carried out on this subject, professionals can turn to programs, methods, and approaches that fail to reflect the state of science. The objective of this article is to examine (i) concepts of nonverbal communication conveyed by these programs, methods, and approaches, but also (ii) the consequences of their use (e.g., on the life or liberty of individuals). To achieve this objective, we describe the scope of scientific research on nonverbal communication. A program (SPOT; Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques), a method (the BAI; Behavior Analysis Interview) and an approach (synergology) that each run counter to the state of science are examined. Finally, we outline five hypotheses to explain why some organizations in the fields of security and justice are turning to pseudoscience and pseudoscientific techniques. We conclude the article by inviting these organizations to work with the international community of scholars who have scientific expertise in nonverbal communication and lie (and truth) detection to implement evidence-based practices. [ES]Para los profesionales de la seguridad y la justicia (policías, abogados, jueces), los miles de artículos revisados por pares sobre comunicación no verbal representan fuentes importantes de conocimiento. Sin embargo, a pesar del alcance del trabajo científico realizado sobre este tema, los profesionales pueden recurrir a programas, métodos y enfoques que no reflejan el estado real de la ciencia. El objetivo de este artículo es examinar (i) los conceptos de comunicación no verbal transmitidos por estos programas, métodos y enfoques, pero también (ii) las consecuencias de su uso (por ejemplo, sobre la vida o la libertad de las personas). Para lograr estos objetivos, describimos el alcance de la investigación científica sobre la comunicación no verbal. Se examina un programa (SPOT: Evaluación de pasajeros mediante técnicas de observación), un método (BAI: Entrevista de análisis de conducta) y un enfoque (sinergología) que contradicen el estado de la ciencia. Finalmente, presentamos cinco hipótesis para explicar por qué algunas organizaciones en los campos de la seguridad y la justicia están recurriendo a la pseudociencia y a las técnicas pseudocientíficas. Concluimos el artículo invitando a estas organizaciones a trabajar con la comunidad académica internacional especializada en la investigación sobre comunicación no verbal y detección de mentiras (y verdad) para implementar prácticas basadas en la evidencia.

Les théories proposant des outils pour décoder la communication non verbale et décrypter la gestuelle de nos interlocuteurs connaissent un étonnant succès éditorial. Parmi elles, la « synergologie » est une pseudoscience qui singe les codes académiques afin d’essayer de capter une légitimité ensuite négociable dans le domaine de la formation continue. Cet article met au jour les faiblesses, les contradictions, ainsi que l’idéologie de cette « similithéorie du décodage du non-verbal ». The theories offering tools and concepts to decode non-verbal communication as well as people’s behaviour and gestures have been met with astounding editorial success. In the midst of this, synergology is a pseudoscience which diverts and manipulates academic codes with the aim of gaining legitimate practice in the field of continuing education. This article sheds light on the weaknesses, contradictions and ideology of this “pseudo” theory of non-verbal decoding. Las teorías que proponen instrumentos para descodificar la comunicación no verbal y descifrar los gestos de los interlocutores experimentan un sorprendente éxito editorial. Entre estas teorías, la “sinergología” es una seudociencia que imita los códigos académicos, con el fin de tratar de captar una legitimidad negociable después en el campo de la formación continua. Este artículo pone en evidencia las debilidades, contradicciones así como la ideología de esta “similiteoría de la descodificación no verbal”.