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Updated: Jun 24, 2025
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Foreign Accent and Forensic Speaker Identification in Voice Lineups: The Influence of Acoustic Features Based on Prosody
Published on: September 27, 2024
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Can perpetrators discern survivors from voice?
Elisa Monti1,2, Wendy D'Andrea2, Linda M Carroll3
1Voice and Trauma Research and Connection Group, Inc., New York, NY, USA.
European Journal of Psychotraumatology
|June 5, 2024
Summary
Individuals with a history of perpetration, not psychopathy, could identify female assault survivors by voice cues. This research explores vocal cues in interpersonal violence and potential self-defense applications.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Previous research indicates perpetrators use body language to select victims.
- The role of vocal cues in victim selection and interpersonal violence remains under-examined.
- This study investigates the potential for vocal cues in identifying individuals with a history of victimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if male listeners with perpetration histories can differentiate female voices of survivors from controls.
- To assess the influence of psychopathic traits and perpetration history on voice discrimination accuracy.
- To explore the role of vocal cues in interpersonal violence and victim targeting.
Main Methods:
- Two independent samples of male listeners (N=105, N=109) rated 18 female voices (9 survivors, 9 controls).
- Listeners heard either spontaneous speech or a standardized passage.
- Listener psychopathic traits and prior perpetration history were assessed.
Main Results:
- A history of perpetration significantly predicted accuracy in identifying assault survivors.
- Self-reported psychopathic traits did not correlate with accuracy in voice discrimination.
- Findings suggest perpetrators may utilize vocal cues for victim identification.
Conclusions:
- Vocal cues play a potential role in interpersonal violence dynamics.
- Understanding voice-based discrimination can inform prevention and intervention strategies.
- Further research into specific vocal cues may support self-defense training.
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