Batoning. Using a body part, often an arm, to drive home a point; called batoning because the person uses the body part as a conductor uses a baton.

Circadian rhythm. “The rhythmic repetition of certain phenomena in living organisms at about the same time each day,” according to the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations glossary (www.jcaho.org). Interrogators manipulate circadian rhythm with light, temperature, and food to disorient a source, particularly when trying to extract time-sensitive information.

Circular logic. Going back to a presumption to make a comment, or using a fact to support a predecessor fact. For example, “I know three left-handed kids who are really smart. Left-handed kids are smart. Molly is left-handed, so she must be smart.”

Compound question. A question that asks two or more questions at once: “Are you going to the store or the airport?”

Conditioning a question. Responding to a question with a phrase that appears to answer it, but doesn’t really. For example, “Did you have a meeting this morning?” “I got together with a couple of the guys at the office to go over some things.”

Conjecture question. A question inviting imagination, such as, “What would your trip have been like if…?” It has value in determining where a subject looks while constructing a story, rather than remembering one.

Control question. A question to which you know the answer.

Displaced expectation. An expectation that relies on a set of assumptions that are no longer valid; used by interrogators and abusive spouses, for example, to keep the subject wondering, “How can I make this stop?” or “How can I please him?”

Entitlement. Something tangible or intangible to which you believe you have a right, such as fidelity, love, a clean house, respect, or use of the car every afternoon.

Filter. An internal device that interprets stimuli; filters can be sensory, cultural, religious, ethnic, physical, racial, and so on.

Leading question. A question that projects the answer in the question; for example, “How ashamed are you of running the red light?” instead of “Describe your actions at the intersection of 8th and Main Street yesterday at 11:30.”

Limbic mode. The state in which emotions take over; it signifies a loss of cognitive ability.

Repeat question. The same question asked in different words; it’s used as a way to determine whether the source has answered truthfully.

Shadowy memories. When the limbic system transfers information into memory in a highly emotional state, then the way a person recalls the memory could happen in unpredictable ways; a dark alley might arouse a shadowy memory of a rape, for example.

Shock of capture. A sense of being overwhelmed by the sudden, strange events related to capture; shock of capture can occur in any situation in which an individual suddenly experiences an extreme loss of control and normalcy at the hands of another. This is the ultimate in displaced expectations.

Soft interrogation. A style of interrogation credited to German interrogator Hans Scharff, who used techniques to earn prisoners’ trust; it relies on understanding human behavior and psychology, rather than any type of physical cruelty.

Source lead. Information dropped by the source in the course of conversation that the questioner feels there is value in pursuing. For example, in a job interview, the candidate might say, “Thanks for having the meeting at nine” because he’s in a golf tournament at noon; the interviewer might come back to that to determine whether or not golf would take precedence over work.

Stockholm Syndrome. The sense of relationship a captive feels for the captor. Whether or wittingly or unwittingly, the captor convinces the person that the only way to feel worthwhile again is be compliant, to relate to his point of view and situation.

Trailing. A fading off at the end of a sentence; this could be muttered syllables, nonsense, or simply quieter speech. Some people trail their sentences normally, but others only do it if they don’t want you to hear what they’re saying.

Vague question. A fuzzy question that could be simply a badly phrased question or that could be used as a diversion from the meat of the conversation; for example, “When you went to the hotel, did it seem like there were a lot of people just hanging out in the lobby?”