How to Tell When Someone is Lying

Do you ever get that feeling that you are being told a fib, but you aren't sure how to tell if someone is lying?  You feel skeptical, but you are afraid to trust your instincts.  The uncertainty is driving you crazy.  You want to believe what others are telling you, but you don't want to be taken for a fool. 

In most cases, you should trust your instincts.  Our subconscious brains are able to pick up subtle clues that tell it how to spot a lie, even when our conscious minds try to overrule it.  What are some of the clues that will help know how to detect a liar?

The Body Language of Lying

The first clue that someone is lying is when they will not look you in the eye.  Of course, experienced liars know this, so they are prepared to stare you down, if necessary.  Because of this, you have to look a little deeper when you want to know how to spot a liar.

Liars tend to hide their hands behind their back, because they don't want to seem fidgety.  They may also pull their arms up in front of themselves, as if they are trying to shrink. This can be a telltale sign of a lie.  In other cases, a liar's hand and arm movements can seem stiff.  They may also touch their face, mouth, throat or ear.  They may set things between you and them, such as coffee mugs or stacks of books, as though they do not want you to see them clearly.

The expression on a liar's face, or their general behavior, may contradict what they are saying.  If he tells you that he loves you, but can barely smile or look you in the eye when he says it, you have to wonder if he is telling you the truth!  In addition, any sign of emotion may seem out of sync or delayed.  There can be a long pause before the recipient of a gift may think to say "I love it."  In general, you may just get the feeling they are being fake.

Watch the other person's face closely if you think they are lying.  If they are blinking rapidly, nibbling on their lips, breathing deeply, blushing, or their nostrils seem to be flaring, there is a high likelihood that they are lying.  Another sign of a lie is if a right-handed person looks to their left, or a left-handed person looks to their right.  This can be an indication of a made-up answer, although it isn't foolproof.

Another odd sign of a lie is that the liar may make statement without using a contraction.  Instead of saying "I didn't do it," he may say "I did not do it."  (Remember Bill Clinton saying, "I did not have sexual relations with that girl"?)

Liars are often quick to change the subject.  They may try to use sarcasm, humor or other diversions in an attempt to change the subject.  You may notice that politicians do this all the time!

These tips are not meant to turn you into a human lie detector.  Instead, they are only intended to help you understand the clues that your subconscious may be using when it tells you that you are hearing a lie.  If you also use your conscious mind to evaluate some of these tricks to help you detect a liar, you may feel less confused when you think someone is being dishonest with you!

You may also want to read:

Politics and Lies
Online Dating Scams
Common Lies Men Tell Women
Common Lies Women Tell Men

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