Final answer:
Non-verbal behaviors, such as body language and involuntary physical responses, play a critical role in aiding police officers in establishing probable cause during investigations, despite the absence of direct evidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Non-verbal elements of a suspect’s behavior, such as body language, can be significant in establishing probable cause during law enforcement investigations. Police officers often use non-verbal cues to assess a suspect's truthfulness and overall demeanor. For example, behaviors like avoiding eye contact, nervous hand gestures, or excessive sweating may indicate that a suspect is not being truthful. In the scenario where police suspect two individuals of armed robbery, such indications can contribute to the officers’ suspicions in the absence of direct evidence.
Additionally, the way a suspect reacts to questioning can be telling. Rapid breathing, a change in voice pitch, or an unwillingness to cooperate with simple requests may be indicative of deceptive behavior. Police officers are trained to observe these subtle cues, which might point to guilt or the concealment of information relevant to the crime. It is, however, vital to maintain fairness and objectivity, as stress and fear can cause innocent people to exhibit similar non-verbal behaviors.
The deGroot and Gooty study suggests that non-verbal cues can also be used to make personality attributions which may be relevant in the context of employment interviews, showing the broader implications of understanding non-verbal behaviors.