reliable, ways to catch a liar is to identify
inconsistencies in their story—details that just don't
give with common sense, prevailing logic, or societal
norms. For example, if your date claims he's as rich
as Bill Gates but drives a Hyundai, you can bet he's
telling a tall tale.
2. Eye contact. When it comes to lying, the eyes
can be a dead giveaway. Generally, liars avoid eye
contact, but if you're dealing with a seasoned
fabricator, he or she might stare excessively. In
addition, most people's pupils dilate when they're
lying because their adrenalin rises. According to an
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, liars may also blink
rapidly or close their eyes for slightly prolonged
periods in an attempt to block out auditory or visual
stimuli.
3. Contradictions. As they weave their tales of
deceit, liars typically forget a few details along the
way and reveal some telling contradictions. For
example, if a friend backed out of your weekend
plans because she supposedly had a life-threatening
illness and later described the weekend as
"wonderful," consider it a red flag.
4. Stammering or scrambling. The majority of
liars, especially under questioning, will utter a lot of
nervous ahhs, umms, and wells in an effort to buy
time and save face. When confronted with
particularly tough questions, they may also scramble
for flimsy rationales and far-fetched excuses to
reinforce the lie.
5. Changes in body language. There are a number
of nonverbal cues that can signal deceit. Look for
signs in the suspected liar's face that they're hiding,
suppressing, or faking a spontaneous expression.
And beware of those who touch their lower faces
often, scratch their noses, or hide the hands behind
their backs or in their pockets.
6. Shifting vocal patterns. According to experts,
inconsistent vocal patterns are extremely common
among dishonest people. In the midst of a lie, the
pitch and tone of their voices may change on a dime,
and the rate of their speech may suddenly slow
down or get quicker.
7. Changing the subject. When trying to detect
deception, watch out for this common tactic. For
example, if you ask your boss about that raise she
promised six months ago, and she starts to talk
about the weather, you have to question her motives.
After all, why would a liar subject herself to 20
questions when she can just pull a switcheroo?
8. Props. According to the FBI Bulletin, deceivers
often use "soda cans, computer screens, and other
objects, both large and small, to form a barrier
between themselves and investigators." In addition,
pay close attention if the suspected liar is playing
with objects such as a purse or pen.
9. Inappropriate emotion. Beware of exaggerated
emotion, anger, and defensiveness. (Remember
former President Bill Clinton's fingér-wágging, "I did
not have séxual relations with that woman"?). Along
these lines, claims of moral outrage and superiority
can be a sure sign that something's awry.
10. Too much information. If a suspected liar's
story is excessively detailed, it should make you
doubly skeptical. Chances are, the liar is hoping they
can cover all their tracks, leaving no room for doubt.
It's especially fishy when too much information is
given
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