Which term describes the observation that post-denial cues such as throat clearing can indicate deception?

• A. Laugh cue
• B. Leakage
• C. Microexpression
• D. Erasure behavior

Answer: (D)

The observation described is leakage. In deception research and interviewing, leakage refers to those subtle cues that reveal a person’s true state or thoughts even when they try to hide them with a denial or cover story. Post-denial behavior like throat clearing can signal cognitive load, hesitation, or arousal that accompanies deception, slipping out despite the person’s attempt to appear calm or truthful. These cues “leak” information about what the person is really thinking, helping observers infer truthfulness beyond what’s being stated.

Other terms don’t fit this specific idea as closely: microexpressions are very brief, involuntary facial expressions tied to genuine emotions, not necessarily about post-denial signals; erasure behavior isn’t a standard label for deception cues; and a laugh cue isn’t a reliable indicator of deception. Leakage specifically captures the notion that certain behaviors emerge after a denial and can hint at deception.