THE SIX LAYERS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR

4

THE SIX LAYERS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR

HOW DO THEY WORK

The six layers of human behavior are exactly that, layers. It is important to remember that no one layer is more important than the others. It is also critical to understand that these layers may become apparent in any order. With the six layers it is essential to cluster cues, just like clustering shots on a target before making a windage or elevation adjustment to the sights of a weapon, and the baseline is the zero for the weapon system. The six layers are how you calibrate and make adjustments to your observations. There are some general roles throughout the layers. Proxemics, Geographics, and Atmospherics would be considered external in nature. While Biometrics and Kinesics would be considered internal to the individual. Heuristics is the umbrella which all the other layers fall under and are compared against each other. Another consideration about the six layers is that they intertwine and overlap, like the layers of an onion. For example, a school is a geographic habitual area which is determined by the proxemic, atmospheric, and kinesic behaviors of the students and teachers that provide the context and relevance of the school. It is the combination of all of the layers that paints the picture for observation and articulation.

Understanding Heuristics

Heuristics are the general frameworks with which humans use to quickly reach solutions (Frimodig, 2022). In other words heuristics are tactical shortcuts, quick evaluative techniques that rely on broad observations (Kahneman, 2011). Anytime you say “it looks like…”, “it seems like…”, or “it appears to be…” you are making a heuristic match. More often than not heuristics can be helpful, however they are not guaranteed to succeed. Whereas an algorithm is a step-by-step process that is more reliable. An example of a heuristic is the game of charades. If a person playing the game of charades where to “swing” a baseball bat, while they don’t really have a bat or a ball. A person may see just enough of the behavior to quickly compare that action to seeing a baseball game on TV or in person, or playing it themselves to know that they were acting our swinging a bat at a ball. Heuristics can be so strong that a person could tell if it was a person self-pitching, up at bat, or playing cricket. While heuristics are reliable, they can be imperfect. A good example of this is when Sacramento police officers shot and killed Stephon Clark in his grandmother’s backyard thinking he was pointing a gun at them (Levenson & Park, 2018). The shooting of Stephon Clark is an example of a bad heuristic, where a pervasive judgment is derived from a illogical pattern of cognition.

Heuristics so can be so strong that you may feel your lie is in danger when it is not. Contemporary examples of bad heuristics are the cases of Amadou Diallo, Stephon Clark, and Tamir Rice. CREDIT: Shutterstock

When the officers pursuing Clark came around the corner of his grandmothers house they thought that he was pointing a gun at them when in fact it was his cell phone with the light on. This is also an example of how the theory of close enough can cause a bad result. By establishing the baseline, clustering cues, and exercising tactical patience when possible, situations like this can be avoided.

Understanding Proxemics

Proxemics is the understanding of interpersonal relationships and behavior in relation to distance (Foley & Gentile, 2010). Proxemics can be observed and measured between individuals, groups, and items. There are three main parts to proxemics with regard to behavior pattern recognition, proximity negates skill, interpersonal relations/relationships, and HVI/POI indicators (high value individual/person of interest).

Proximity Negates Skill. This is the understanding that regardless of an opponents size, skill, or strength, the closer they get proxemically the more dangerous they become. This has to do with reactionary gap or the amount of proxemic distance needed to respond to a threat (Grossi, 2018). This is a simplified expression of the Hick’s Hyman Law, which explains how choice and uncertainty impact decision-making (Proctor & Schneider, 2018). Essentially, the more choices that are available, and the more stimuli that is added, the longer the reaction time.

Interpersonal Relations/Relationships. The more time that is available to observe proxemic cues, the better the understanding of a relationship between two people, a group, or a person and a item. For example, it can be interpreted how well two individu-

als know each other by how close they are standing next to each other. If you observe a greeting, then it becomes easier. If the two individuals merely shake hands, that could be a first-time meet or business circumstance, whereas if they were to hug, then there is more of a significant personal relationship.

FIGURE 2 - THE HERAT HANDSHAKE

What could be the MPCOA and MDCOA for this interaction based on the proxemics and heuristics? CREDIT: Lynn Westover

Relationship cues can also extend to items or artifacts. For example, if an individual was observed in the parking lot of a bar or restaurant that had their foot on the seat of a motorcycle or the bumper of a car, then they are most probably the owner based on that proxemic behavior. Proxemic pushes or pulls can also provide relationship information. A proxemic push & pull is body language that either draws others in or pushes them away. A proxemic push occurs when a person or group uses body language to create distance to another person. A proxemic pull occurs people use body language to invite others toward them.

HVI/POI Indicators. With enough sustained observation, a HVI (high value individual) or POI (person of interest) can be identified, even within a large group. To easily remember these indicators we use the acronym M.A.D.E. which is mimicry, adoration, direction, and entourage:

Understanding Geographics

The significance of any given location will be understood through the human behavior associated with that area. Factors that can influence this are topography, climate, flora, and fauna. For example, it is not the sign that indicates a convenience store. It is the behavior of patrons coming in and out with small purchases or filling their vehicle with fuel that gives the location relevance. Other behaviors observed in geographics. These areas can be broken down to three categories; Lines of Drift, Habitual Areas, and Anchor Points.

Natural Lines of Drift. Natural lines of drift are paths of least resistance that humans will use because they require the least amount of effort to travel. A natural line of drift is not necessarily the closest path from point A to point B.

Habitual Areas. A habitual area is a geographic location where people feel comfortable coming or going without reservation. This behavior is like a 2-way street, like grocery store or a market, people move throughout the area shopping as they please.

FIGURE 3 - NATURAL LINES OF DRIFT, FAMOUS DAVE’S BBQ

The sidewalk and patio for the front entrance of Famous Dave’s BBQ in Portland, Oregon is meant to direct people around the landscaping. People, just like animals, are driven by their four Fs and walk straight through the planter creating a natural line of drift. CREDIT: Lynn Westover

M. Mimicry or isopraxism, is when two people unconsciously mirror each other’s body language and behaviors.

A. Adoration is positive or negative affection, admiration, or respect. Adoration is when a person or a group holds an individual to a higher status.

D. Direction is overt or covert management or guidance by person to another or to a group of people.

E. Entourage is a group of people attending to or surrounding an important person. This can be as few as one other person, a plus one, and it can also be indicated even if the other person is on a telephone.

Anchor Points. An area where only certain individuals within a given group or sect would frequent without reservation. The behavior is like a one-way street.

Understanding Atmospherics

Every location has an atmosphere or “feeling” associated with it. This “mood” is based on the behavior or lack of behavior displayed by the people in that area. Atmospheric shifts can include the presence or absence of ambient noise, animals, people, vehicles, rubble, trash, graffiti, tattoos, or bullet holes. An atmospheric shift may be the only observable preevent indicator that presents itself in a critical situation. Your presence can create an atmospheric shift.

For example, say that you happened to walk into a room after two colleagues just concluded an argument. They may no longer be arguing, but you would identify changes in their baseline behavior such as being silent, avoiding eye contact with each other, or redness in their faces.

Understanding Biometrics

Human beings have physiological characteristics that are measurable and observable. Some of these characteristics require special equipment or training such as retinal scans, fingerprints, DNA, HGN, facial recognition, and voice recognition. Others can be observed naked eye such as perspiration, respiratory rate, blink rate, histamines, and pupil dilation. A contemporary example of the use of biometrics within law enforcement is horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) for field sobriety tests. Pupil dilation or constriction can help in the identification of central nervous system issues or indicate intoxication or overdose from specific substances. For example narcotic drugs, both legal and illicit, can constrict the pupils. In the case of an overdose the pupils will be pinpoint and do not respond to light (American Addiction Centers, 2022).

FIGURE 4 - ANDERS BREIVIK CONVICTED OF MURDER

Anders Breivik smiling just before his sentencing and the immediate histamine cross, indicating his anger and emotional state after his conviction. CREDIT: Liverpool Echo

Another useful biometric cue is histamines. A histamine cross, redness in the face, is indicative of one of three potential stimuli, anger, embarrassment, or physical exertion. Quick recognition of this anomaly can be instrumental in de-escalating a situation. For instance, if an officer is making an initial contact with a civilian and through the course of the contact the individual begins to have a histamine cross, it could mean that they are getting angry. Quick recognition of this cue can provide an officer the time they need to mitigate the situation. Another example of this is Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian mass murderer who killed 77 people in Oslo, Norway (CNN Wire Staff, 2012). During his trial he maintained that he was justified in his actions and maintained his innocence, even smiling while in court. However, once he was convicted and informed of his 21-year sentence he immediately became angry and emotional.

Understanding Kinesics

Kinesics is body language, the study of movements, gestures, facial expressions, and para-language that is a means of communication (Bell, 2014). Kinesic cues are a-cultural in nature, but culture must always be factored into context. When using Kinesics a cluster of cues must be established in order to form a reasonable conclusion.

FIGURE 5 - THE LOOK IN HIS EYES

Predatory looks and mission focus can allude to a lot, either intent or mental health instability. Maurice Clemmons displayed such a look when he walked into the Forza Coffee in Lakewood, WA before he murdered four Lakewood Police Officers. If you haven’t seen it yet, you will know it when you do. CREDIT: NPR

There are three main areas to look for kinesic cues, the eyes, the hands, and the feet. The eyes are important of course, as previously stated, because the predominate sensory function that humans use is vision. Therefore, people will look at what is most important to them. The hands and the feet are the furthest appendages from the brain and while there is conscious control, there is also unconscious autonomic actions that our hands and feet make. It is estimated that approximately 60% to 65% of interpersonal communication is through nonverbal cues (Foley & Gentile, 2010). Another way to see how strong kinesics is to consider a scenario where you meet someone for the first time, after the initial meeting despite the brevity the conversation was, you determined whether or not you had a positive feeling about the person you met. This is an example of how kinesics shape our decisions and behaviors.