Learn effective techniques for detecting deceit through storytelling gaps, eye movements, body language, and physiological changes.
Liar, liar, pants on fire! We wish it were that easy to spot someone who is lying. Let’s face it, you probably couldn't spot a liar these days even if you were able to interrogate them for a couple of hours. Forming a cohesive and blatantly convincing story seems to be second nature to these individuals. So, how can you tell when someone is lying? Short of a polygraph test, here are some ways you can identify a falsehood.
- Try to find gaps in the story. Liars are great storytellers, and chances are they will occasionally brag about their experiences. Whenever you catch the suspected liar in such a narrative, it is the best opportunity to test how consistent their story really is. “I went to Singapore last August and shopped to my heart’s content!” says the liar. “Yeah, I’ve heard the Great Singapore Sale has a lot of bargain items,” you reply. Of course, you may know that the Singapore sale actually starts around May and ends sometime in July. If the liar agrees with your false statement, you've got them!
- Observe eye movements. This is arguably one of the most common gauges of whether someone is lying. More often than not, a liar cannot maintain consistent eye contact. A gaze downward and to the left indicates they are conjuring up a lie. Looking upward to the right, however, means they are accessing the memory portion of the brain and providing an answer or statement from actual memory. On the other hand, the idea of dilated pupils during a lie is largely an urban myth. Pupil dilation can be caused by various factors, such as changes in ambient lighting or feelings of excitement. It is therefore inaccurate to assume someone is lying based solely on pupil dilation. However, squinting and blinking frequently can be reliable indicators.
- Body language. Tapping fingers and shuffling feet indicate that a person is feeling tense. Keeping one or both hands in pockets can be a sign as well. A person who is lying often has an involuntary reflex of hiding their palms from the other person.
- Changes in voice and physiology. Some people, especially men, tend to speak at a slightly higher pitch than normal when lying. This is usually coupled with stammering or a trembling voice. Pay attention to sweat dripping from the forehead and neck areas on an otherwise cool day, or to sweaty palms. If you are extremely observant, you might even be able to detect a liar’s pulse through the movement of the skin near the jugular vein in the neck.
To improve your chances of spotting a liar, observing a combination of two or more of the indicators above—coupled with a little gut feeling and background knowledge of the person—can help support your suspicion. At the end of the day, however, there is no absolute and reliable way to determine if a person is lying, other than a confession or undeniable proof.
How to Spot a Liar
Learn effective techniques for detecting deceit through storytelling gaps, eye movements, body language, and physiological changes.
Liar, liar, pants on fire! We wish it were that easy to spot someone who is lying. Let’s face it, you probably couldn't spot a liar these days even if you were able to interrogate them for a couple of hours. Forming a cohesive and blatantly convincing story seems to be second nature to these individuals. So, how can you tell when someone is lying? Short of a polygraph test, here are some ways you can identify a falsehood.
- Try to find gaps in the story. Liars are great storytellers, and chances are they will occasionally brag about their experiences. Whenever you catch the suspected liar in such a narrative, it is the best opportunity to test how consistent their story really is. “I went to Singapore last August and shopped to my heart’s content!” says the liar. “Yeah, I’ve heard the Great Singapore Sale has a lot of bargain items,” you reply. Of course, you may know that the Singapore sale actually starts around May and ends sometime in July. If the liar agrees with your false statement, you've got them!
- Observe eye movements. This is arguably one of the most common gauges of whether someone is lying. More often than not, a liar cannot maintain consistent eye contact. A gaze downward and to the left indicates they are conjuring up a lie. Looking upward to the right, however, means they are accessing the memory portion of the brain and providing an answer or statement from actual memory. On the other hand, the idea of dilated pupils during a lie is largely an urban myth. Pupil dilation can be caused by various factors, such as changes in ambient lighting or feelings of excitement. It is therefore inaccurate to assume someone is lying based solely on pupil dilation. However, squinting and blinking frequently can be reliable indicators.
- Body language. Tapping fingers and shuffling feet indicate that a person is feeling tense. Keeping one or both hands in pockets can be a sign as well. A person who is lying often has an involuntary reflex of hiding their palms from the other person.
- Changes in voice and physiology. Some people, especially men, tend to speak at a slightly higher pitch than normal when lying. This is usually coupled with stammering or a trembling voice. Pay attention to sweat dripping from the forehead and neck areas on an otherwise cool day, or to sweaty palms. If you are extremely observant, you might even be able to detect a liar’s pulse through the movement of the skin near the jugular vein in the neck.
To improve your chances of spotting a liar, observing a combination of two or more of the indicators above—coupled with a little gut feeling and background knowledge of the person—can help support your suspicion. At the end of the day, however, there is no absolute and reliable way to determine if a person is lying, other than a confession or undeniable proof.
How to Spot a Liar
By Howtodotips
Learn effective techniques for detecting deceit through storytelling gaps, eye movements, body language, and physiological changes.