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Using the psychological stress evaluator in conditions of extreme stress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

John Gunn  and
Gisli Gudjonsson
John Gunn*
Affiliation:
Section of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Gisli Gudjonsson
Affiliation:
Section of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London
*
*Address for correspondence Professor J. Gunn, Section of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry. De Crespigny Park. Camberwell, London SE5 8AF.
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Synopsis

The Psychological Stress Evaluator (PSEV) is a machine for detecting signs of stress in the voice. It was tested using tape recordings of negotiators during a prolonged terrorist siege in which a number of death threats were issued. The study aimed to test whether the PSEV could distinguish between the traces of terrorist voices before the death threats from voice traces at other points. A scoring system using the proportion of voice oscillations falling above defined amplitude levels was used. PSEV scores did rise significantly more just before the actual shooting of a hostage. Unfortunately, the apparatus proved to be slow and cumbersome in practice and of limited, or no, use during the course of incidents similar to the one analysed.

Type
Brief Communication
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , February 1988 , pp. 235 - 238
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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