6 secret techniques of detectives that can be used in real life

If a person cannot tell you his story from the end to the beginning, he is probably lying: the Russian Detective TV channel has found out the professional techniques of modern detectives and, together with the most famous Russian authors of action-packed novels and private detectives, has compiled a list of six methods that will be useful in real life.

Perhaps there is no such sphere where the deductive method would not serve a good service. With its help, you can draw conclusions about people, determine when a person is lying, develop observation, logical thinking and memory. These abilities will be useful both at work and in personal life.

Most of the methods that detectives use in action-packed novels are real techniques from practice, told by real masters of detective work.

But it happens that the special services also use the achievements of writers. Danil Koretsky, a writer, Doctor of Law, retired police colonel, a member of the jury of the Russian Detective Award, shared similar experience from practice: "An officer approached me and said that they used operational combinations in a special operation that I described in Antikiller. And when they were preparing it (the special operation), they were afraid that the person involved would find out this situation if he read the book. As a result, the operation went well."

Russian popular authors, nominees for the first professional award "Russian Detective", which will be awarded in the fall of 2020, and practicing private detectives have compiled a list of six basic detective techniques that can be used in our daily lives.

Detectives — both literary and real - can almost accurately determine when a person is lying and when he is telling the truth. This skill can be useful to anyone. To learn how to separate truth from lies, it is necessary to pay attention to nonverbal body language. When a person cheats, he involuntarily takes a "closed pose": crosses his arms over his chest or touches his face with his hands. Also, his eyes can tell a lot about a person. Lying by looking into the eyes is a difficult task, so the person who cheats usually looks away.

Sergey Litvinov, writer, author of action-packed novels, nominee for the Russian Detective Award:

The effectiveness of deductive methods in everyday life is recognized by professional detectives themselves. Alexandra Garusova, vice president of the International Association of Detectives, profiler, head of a detective agency, explained that the definition of lies occurs by many factors. "We need to look at the complex. Rapid breathing, trembling in the voice, crossed legs, crossed arms — these can all be signs of deception. I had one interesting case. There was a major theft in the company, and our client suspected his employees. And when we started interviewing everyone together with a polygraph examiner, the person we immediately thought of took a chair and put it in the farthest corner of the room, that is, distanced himself. His head had completely sunk into his shoulders, he shrank and closed, fidgeting in his chair.

Surveillance of a person is an important part of a detective story. If you have an unpleasant suspicion that someone is watching you, do not panic, continue moving along the planned route, reducing the pace. Pretend that you are looking for something in your bag, or look at your phone, but your eyes should look around at this moment and observe the situation. Remember those people who passed by you. If you have noticed the same face several times, it is likely that you really have a "tail". Go to any public place where it is always crowded. It can be a restaurant, a shopping center, a subway. And constantly change your route so that actions are unpredictable. According to Tatiana Polyakova, a writer, author of works in the genre of "adventurous detective", a nominee for the "Russian Detective" award, the old ways are still effective: "Look in the mirror if you are a woman, or in the shop window if you are a man. In the reflection, you can see the one who is chasing. Since the time of Stirlitz, this method has been in effect. If you are in the subway, then go in one direction, and then abruptly in the other. And see if the same people are following you."

Danil Koretsky, writer, Doctor of Law, retired police colonel, member of the jury of the Russian Detective Award:

According to Alexandra Garusova, vice-president of the International Association of Detectives, profiler, head of a detective agency, you can get away from surveillance if you travel by car by simply changing the route. "If a person is driving a car, I recommend doing some maneuvers, you have often seen them in old Soviet films — these are just the basics of detective work. For example, if you are driving a car, then you need to slow down a little and see if a car that you have already seen is overtaking you. Or, alternatively, drive into an alley that does not correspond to your standard route. And see if a suspicious car turns behind you."

Detectives have a phenomenal ability to remember everything that happens, down to the smallest detail. Experts are sure that everyone can improve their memory, it is enough to apply some techniques. One of the most effective methods is the use of images and associations.

Private investigator Vasily Pavlenko shared his "proprietary" method with the Russian Detective channel. "For example, a person needs to go to a store and buy groceries. Milk, bread, pasta, onions. So, we remember. Add bread to the milk, then put it all on the gas burner, add pasta and sprinkle with onions. Through such a chain, a person can remember what to buy in the store."Alexandra Garusova, vice-president of the International Association of Detectives, profiler, head of a detective agency, also gave her recommendations: "In the morning, when leaving for work, look at what your husband or wife is wearing. And during the day, try to remember what details were in the image. It trains well. Try to remember your friends' phone numbers. If you remember, in the series "Sherlock", Benedict Cumberbatch's character talks about the halls of reason [in the second episode of the second season, Sherlock announces that he needs to go to the halls of reason. This is a technique of memorization - ed.].

Personally, I have been using this method for more than 5 years. This technique actually exists and is called the "Loki Method" (from the Latin loci (mn. number from locus - location, location). The essence of the method is that it is easier to remember the location than any fact. I imagine my memory as drawers: a cabinet divided into colorful shelves. And all the information is added there. After some time, you take this information from the shelf. It's very effective."

One of the main skills of a detective is the ability to listen and hear. This skill is useful to everyone. The famous psychologist Dale Carnegie argued that a good means of influencing a person is not the ability to speak, but the developed ability to listen.

Tatiana Ustinova, novelist, author of detective novels, screenwriter, translator, TV presenter, nominee for the Russian Detective Award:

The investigators question and verify any information received on the case. This rule will come in handy in life. Before buying, making a deal, signing a contract or getting a job, collect the data. Remember the old rule of scouts: information is considered truthful if confirmed by three independent sources. Social networks and online services will allow you to check a car, apartment or person without actually leaving home.

Tatiana Polyakova, writer, author of works in the genre of "adventurous detective", nominee for the award "Russian detective":

Sergey Litvinov, a writer, the author of action-packed novels, a nominee for the Russian Detective Award, was convinced from his sister's experience that everyone can be checked nowadays. "My sister and co-author Anya once came to a private detective. He posted an ad on his website about finding an assistant, and Anya sent him a resume by email. Then they called, and at the end of the conversation, this detective says the following phrase: "Well, Annushka, it's no more difficult than jumping with a parachute." How did he know that she was a famous former parachutist? He showed that he had "deciphered" it. He realized who was "knocking" on him, that this was already a famous writer by that time. It turned out that he punched her email address, which was highlighted somewhere, like the mail of the writer Anna Litvinova."

The words of the writers were confirmed by private detective Vasily Pavlenko: "Checking a partner or counterparty will be useful to you when you conclude some kind of contract. It is necessary to collect information on whether a partner or colleague is financially capable. When choosing a medical institution, it would also be advisable to check certificates, employees, their work experience. When hiring nannies, housekeepers, drivers, it is necessary to collect information on them. Don't believe the resume, but call past employers and read reviews on the Internet."

Detectives are constantly developing and improving in themselves such an important quality as observation. This quality is a valuable tool in many fields of activity. At work, at home and even on vacation, we often have to pay attention to something and remember all kinds of information. And how disappointing it is when after a short time it turns out that we can't remember important details. The training of observation begins with everyday things that have become so familiar that we almost do not see them.

Comment by Tatiana Polyakova, writer, author of works in the genre of "adventurous detective", nominee for the Russian Detective Award:

A good investigator knows how to focus attention on those details that can carry important information. This skill is acquired with experience. Sergey Litvinov, writer, author of action-packed novels believes that concentration is very important, and it needs to be trained by a person of many professions. "There are very good ways to train attention. This is how scouts are trained. 4-5 different objects are taken, put in a certain order, a person looks for 40 seconds, then the objects are covered with a handkerchief, and the person must describe the objects as they were. It's a good training method, and it really works."