Knowing when someone is lying is not always easy. Unfortunately, there’s no infallible method to determine if someone is being totally truthful. But there are several obvious signs that someone could not be telling the truth. Go on reading for a list of warning signs.
How can you know when someone is telling the truth?
It’s complicated, I guess.
Forensic psychologist Dr. Leanne ten Brinke of the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, and her colleagues have found that although our conscious minds might occasionally trick us, we have very strong gut feelings when it comes to spotting dishonest people.
Thankfully, we can look for signs to determine whether someone is lying. Body language expert and behavioral analyst Dr. Lillian Glass, author of “The Body Language of Liars,” suggested that understanding someone’s normal behavior is the first step toward figuring out whether or not they are lying. Certain actions, like excessive sharing or pointing, could be perfectly natural for a certain individual.
Recall that these accusations of dishonesty are merely hypothesized and not definitive. Furthermore, some seasoned liars might get away with not exhibiting any of these signs.
Following are some indicators that someone might be telling you the truth:
1. Those who are lying frequently adjust their head positions
When you ask someone a straight question, look for quick head movements to determine whether or not they are telling the truth. Glass projected that the head would be retracted or yanked back, bowed down, or cocked or turned to the side. This usually happens right before the person being questioned has to answer a question.
2. Their breathing might alter.
Glass says you can tell whether someone is lying to you by the way they breathe. It’s an automatic reaction. She went on, “As their respiration changes, their shoulders may rise and their voice may become shallow. People can’t breathe because to variations in their heart rate and blood flow. These kinds of changes occur in your body when you lie and when you’re nervous and tense.
3. They frequently remain quite still.
Glass said that while it’s common knowledge that people writhe when they’re nervous, you should also look out for people who appear still. Glass proposed that this could be a sign of the basic neuronal “fight” reaction rather than the “flight” response, as the body readies itself for possible combat. “When you talk and participate in regular conversation, your body usually moves in subtle, loose, and mostly unconscious ways. Thus, it is usually a serious indication that something is amiss when you witness someone standing motionless and rigid.
4. They might recite phrases or words.
She says they are trying to convince themselves and you of something. They’re trying to prove the falsehood that has been taught to them. For example, he or she may say, “I didn’t…I didn’t,” several times, according to Glass. According to her, people buy themselves some time by repeating things as they try to gather their thoughts.
5. They might offer you too much information
According to Glass, “there is a very high probability that he or she is not telling you the truth.” “When someone keeps talking and gives you too much information, especially too many details and information that is not requested.” “Liars often talk a lot because they think that by talking a lot and coming across as open, others will trust them.”
6. They could cover their lips or touch them.
According to Glass, covering one’s mouth inherently indicates dishonesty when one is unwilling to address an issue or answer a question. According to her, adults who cover their lips are not being completely honest and are just not want to communicate what’s on their minds. They are genuinely impeding communication.
7. They frequently conceal vulnerable body parts out of instinct.
This can be applied, among other places, to the head, chest, abdomen, or throat. In my capacity as an attorney-adviser, I regularly observe this in court. According to Glass, I can tell the defendant is sensitive to the witness’ testimony when I see them concealing their throat with their hand.
They frequently shuffle their feet.
Glass remarked, “This is the body taking over.” A suspected liar’s shuffling feet may give you hints about their discomfort and anxiety. She says it also expresses the person’s wish to get out of the situation. This is among the best methods for identifying a liar. You may learn a lot just by staring at their feet.
9. Speaking may become challenging for them.
When you examine the videotaped interrogation of a guilty individual, you will often notice that she is having increasing difficulty speaking, said Glass. This occurs because stress causes the autonomic nervous system to decrease salivary flow, which causes the mucous membranes in the mouth to naturally dry out. Additional danger signs include pursed lips or sudden lip-biting.
10. They might not blink much when they look at you.
While it’s common for people to look away when lying, the dishonest person may go above and above to maintain eye contact to dominate and manipulate you. When telling the truth, most people will occasionally look away or even alter their gaze, according to Glass. On the other side, a liar uses their cold, steady stare to threaten and exert control. Fast blinking is another danger sign.
11. They frequently point.
According to Glass, a liar is trying to turn the tables on you when he behaves defensively or aggressively. A liar who is faced with a lie may use irate gestures, such as pointing. Vivian Giang and Jacquelyn Smith contributed to an earlier draft of this story.
