How to Tell If Someone is Lying
by A quick overview of Guilty Body Language.
Guilty Body language: Does it exist?
A subject of much discussion in the news at the moment is Guilty Body Language; a controversial idea that body language can be used to decide if suspects are guilty. Apparently, sitting with the legs wide apart implies arrogance, hard swallowing and a clenched jaw implies guilt and nervousness. Keeping a blank face while discussing distressing topics can also be an indicator of guilt.
Speaking in a higher pitched voice, hesitating, talking jerkily, missing out irrelevant detail are all indications that someone is lying or nervous. But once it is broken down to that, how are you supposed to know whether someone is lying, or telling the truth and is nervous?
Here is a little list so that you can recognize some of the signs of lying/nervousness:
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The Person is Often Worried About Being Caught or Feels Guilty, and is Hence Tense Speak in a Higher Pitched Voice
- Hesitate
- Make speech errors
- Move jerkily
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Do Not “remember” What They Say Happened
- Say things which are inconsistent
- Miss out irrelevant detail
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Make Up Stuff
- Hesitate as they think about what to say
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Are Worried About What You Might Ask
- Talk a lot to use up the time
- Get “emotional” to try and put you off
- Goes along easily if you change the subject
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Are Worried About What They Might Say
- Use language carefully
- Pause to think before answering
- Give short answers
- Use a monotonous tone
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Fear Eye Contact Will Give The Game Away
- Avoid eye contact
- Blink more often
- Rub their eyes more
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Fear Being Detected
- Say as little as possible
- Try to get away or change the subject
- Parrot back your words with a denial
- Exaggerate statements about being truthful
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Try to Control Body Language
- Hold the body rigid
- Leak signals then cover up fast
- Smile with the mouth but not the eyes
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Cannot Control Body Language
- Send conflicting signals with different parts of the body
- Have eye pupil dilation
- Shrug and grimace
- Give the game away with lower-body signals
- Fidget, with hands and feet
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Feel Threatened
- Attack, defend or deflect
- Place barriers in front of them, from arms to books to tables
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Need Time to Think Threatened
- Repeat the question
- Adjust their clothing
- Ramble on about inconsequential things
- Has slight delays in speech-body alignment
-
Know About The Above and Over-Compensate
- Appear too relaxed
- Keep a “frozen face” to avoid leakage
- Stare
- Go too rigid
- Go into excessive detail
- Show no discrepancies at all
- Wear dark glasses
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Post CommentLiana
On November 18, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Get over it!
This is great – now I know one of the most fundamental desires of the human race – to know who is lying. This stuff could bring down kingdoms. I expect you’re jealous because you didn’t think about writing it. Stop being so spiteful, pull your head out of your butt and show some respect.
BMX Bika
On November 18, 2007 at 1:15 pm
I agree with Liana – you need to get over yourself.
Dustzy
On November 18, 2007 at 2:32 pm
lol
cool runnin'
On November 18, 2007 at 2:57 pm
You didn’t catch it huh?
He was LYING!
He acted relaxed but was WAY too rigid. (check #12)
Great information here, thanks.
I’ll be watching…
Just another Cancer
On November 19, 2007 at 3:14 am
Most of these things are also generic responses to someone w/ serious self esteem issues and/or total lack of social technique, not necessarily a lie.
fleurdublahdubladublah
On November 24, 2007 at 6:12 am
This is really interesting.
Now I know how to lie without being caught. Joke!
I am so emailing this to everyone I know, then we know who ate all the mince pies…
amino acido
On November 24, 2007 at 11:55 am
So what, would they have to do all of them? Or just some, or what?
Kateen
On November 24, 2007 at 11:56 am
I’d imagine just some.
But more than one or two.
Sean
On November 24, 2007 at 2:36 pm
I’m sorry, but this article basically gives a reason for every movement someone might make during a conversation. Has it struck you that sometimes, folded arms might just be becuase the person is cold, or feels like doing so? Or that thinking while in a conversation may just be so that they have something vaguely intelligent to say?
I myself work with children as a mentor, I find the whole body language idea both idiotically presumptuous and inaccurate.
Kateen
On November 24, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Has it struck you that sometimes, someone might fold their arms because they’re lying?
Sheesh. Blondes.
kaphwan
On November 24, 2007 at 9:32 pm
So, you’ve agreed that folded arms could mean lying or it could mean that they’re nervous…
…and still saying that if someone’s folding their arms, it’s a reliable indicator that they’re lying? Because your article title isn’t “How to Tell If Someone is Either Lying or Nervous”.
Vrij and Mann showed in 2001 that police officers- people trained under these behavioural guidelines to detect lies- performed no better than chance at detecting liars, and no better than civilian students, at that. The only two fairly reliable indicators, albeit imperfect, are a significant increase in voice pitch and a decrease in hand movements (Anderson et al., 1999).
lala
On November 25, 2007 at 5:27 am
… should be very careful and don’t make prejudgment that someone is lying based on this article, because some qualities suggested are quite in common amongst people with lesser social skills …
Sean
On November 25, 2007 at 6:18 am
Kateen, when you can actually give me a reason, and prove it, I’ll beleive you, but for now, my judgement is set.
Johnny
On November 26, 2007 at 3:28 am
You can’t spell, Sean.
And I think that this could be useful. If anyone actually bothers to read the article properly, it says that these could also be signs of nervousness.
Do you read before you post?
Sean
On November 27, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Becuase that had a lot of relevance to the matter at hand. Plus it was a simple typo – don’t try and tell me you’ve never made a typing mistake.
Yes, I do read before I post, and as someone who’s studied psychology for the last 2 years, I am saying that I think it’s completely inaccurate.
Put it this way: If you had severe social problems (taking this example from my friend lala above), and someone made accusations that you were lying or nervous based on your body language, how would you feel?
I’m not intent on getting into an argument on the matter, I’m simply saying, there’s absolutely no point going “ah, that’s great! Now I KNOW when people are lying!” without looking at it from two sides. You all want it to be true because it makes you feel that you’ve acheived something.
I’m not saying there’s no truth at all in it, I’m saying that there’s no way you can draw the conclusion that someone is lying (or of any other mindset for that matter) purely based upon the points stated above.
Sean
On November 27, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Oh, and Johnny, just to point out, the random \s are not my fault. They just seem to insert themselves whenever I use ” or ‘
“
“
“
Tokka
On November 27, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Cool this worked
Puppei
On November 28, 2007 at 6:40 am
Is Nice!
OK, since no one got the Borat impression, basically, this article works.
I’m on your side, Johnny
Johnny
On November 29, 2007 at 8:30 am
Sean, you’re blonde
Sean
On December 2, 2007 at 8:08 am
Is that the best you can come up with Johnny? Are you infact a 9 year old?
If you intend on having an intelligent conversation, that really is not the best way to go about it…
Josh04
On December 2, 2007 at 8:17 am
I always lie.
I typed that with my arms crossed in a freezing cold room. PSYCHE!
teknoTom
On December 2, 2007 at 8:48 am
Jonny, I assume you’re addicted to commenting on youtube and just basically advertising the fact that you are all alone and you spend all your time on sites like these to learn how to make friends?
I would try and learn the human art of articulate conversation for a start.
Mipsi
On December 2, 2007 at 9:16 am
I think this article has some good points in it, actually.
And that ya’ll should stop fighting and chill. Think you could do better? Write your own.
T.K. Knowles
On December 2, 2007 at 9:21 am
I would beg to differ. Sean if giving what I believe to be an accurate, articulate, reasoned response to the topic at hand, whilst you seem to be repeatedly commiting the argumentative fallacy that is ad hominem.
Only a small minded oaf would fail to see the reason in his logic, be unable to put togethera coherent rebuttal, and yet remain firm in what he/she thinks is true.
Johnny, I ask you, did your parents love you, or is their neglect the reason for your attention seeking behaviour?
Sean
On December 2, 2007 at 9:32 am
Johnny, if you can’t see the point in reading my posts, why respond? To be honest, calling me blond repeatedly is not going to offend me a great deal, becuase I’m very confident that my hair is in fact not blonde. Saying my head is stuck up my arse is a mindless contradiction seeing as so far you’ve given response after response without reason.
Maria Elle
On December 2, 2007 at 10:05 am
Chilax, or I’ll delete all the posts that diss anyone else.
Johnny, calm down. Yeah, I know you love me.
Sean, we get the point – you think this article is crap. Live with it.
Johnny
On December 2, 2007 at 10:12 am
Maria, I don’t love you. There’s a gorgeous wife at home.
Sean, you think you know everything. Do us all a favor and stop posting, because you fail to see why some of the reasons given on this could well indicate lying.
Better psycologists than you stand by these theories.
Sean
On December 2, 2007 at 10:23 am
Really? I’d like you to find one that thinks these points CONCLUSIVELY prove someone is a liar. As a matter of fact, I’ve said nothing to indicate that “I know everything”, I’ve just highlighted your failngs of reason. Also, you may want to know that “Maria Elle” is in fact the same person that wrote the article in the first place, just using a different identity.
I do not “Fail to see” why these points may indicate lying (indicate being the operational word). I’m simply stating (with an obvious base of support) that you cannot rely on them.
Another thing to point out is that, at no point during this debate have I tried to directly insult you. However, you seem to feel the need to do so. Now, psychologically speaking, this does suggest numerous personality insecurities.
Ugly Betty Boy
On December 2, 2007 at 10:25 am
lol.
so wht is da problem?
seen finks he nose eveythig.
n jonny has issues
T.K. Knowles
On December 2, 2007 at 10:31 am
Now now Seany, is the blasphemy really necessary?
Sean
On December 2, 2007 at 10:32 am
Shush you :p I think in this case, it truly is.
Sean
On December 2, 2007 at 10:36 am
Slightly unorthodox there
Yemz
On December 2, 2007 at 10:56 am
In a way though Sean is right, because i’m always cold and when i’m cold i fold my arms… doesn’t mean i’m lying. Also blink more often- I blink about once every two seconds doesn’t mean i’m lying plus if they say as little as possible it could be because they just don’t like talking much…
Some of it can be right eg- avoiding eye contact, thinking about answers but really it just depends what your personality is like and how you act in general.
ladie makes 3
On December 11, 2007 at 6:14 am
ladie makes 3 ladies choice, i’m the ladies choice
Johnny
On December 11, 2007 at 6:16 am
Sean, no one cares about the sort of crap you write. Shut up.
Georgie
On December 21, 2007 at 11:22 am
hiya natalie
jo told me bout this
hope i helped by going on this websit
lov3 u!..x
Betty Crocker
On December 24, 2007 at 9:06 pm
its christmas eve ronald, you think you could give it a rest
Natalie I
On January 4, 2008 at 6:42 am
Thanks Georgia!
Yeah, you did help, thanks again!
????????
On January 5, 2008 at 4:01 pm
It is really good!
Ashley
On January 9, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Well, I thought this was a pretty good article and could probably help a lot of people figure out if someone they know is lying. the main thing to keep in mind is that your watching for thier behavior to be unusuall for them, I personally talk a lot normally so when I lie I tend to say less. people who don’t normal say anything might say a lot, and people who are offten cold might not use conjunctions while they are lieing. people the point is that you are looking for changes in normal behavior and unless the person is constantly lying to you these few little hints on what to look for are pretty helpful. the point is to remember everyone lies diffrently and figuring out who is lying is not an exact science, but just like with any investigation there are clues to follow. someone who can’t keep thier story straight is kind of like finding the stolen items in someones garage. doesn’t mean they did it but it does make them suspect.
Darlene McFarlane
On January 20, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I think this is a good article and I agree with Ashely. If you know the person you can tell when they are acting differently and in that case many of your tips would tell you a lot. They say you can tell if someone is lying by watching their eyes. If they look to the left, they are lying. The right side of our brain is the imaginative side and if someone is making something up using the right side their eyes will shift to the left.
Good work,Maria.
Maviel5
On March 5, 2008 at 7:43 am
Omg. This is awesome, you have all the qualities of an excellent researcher and writer. I’ll use this to know when my friends are lying.
Maria Elle
On March 5, 2008 at 11:16 am
Thanks Maviel5!
how 'bout that4
On March 10, 2008 at 4:22 pm
this is so cool. i hate it when my friends lie to me.
theboss
On April 16, 2008 at 9:09 pm
is it possible that a chronic or expert liar exhibits the same traits and behaviors when he or she is lying that a nervous, awkward, or shy person exhibits when he or she is telling the truth?
I read this in another article on Google and i was just wondering.
PS I love to find out when a person is lying (maybe thats my nature) but i sometimes cant tell
this is an interesting topic because i want to know when my girlfriend is lying (just for fun)
*wouldnt you like to know*
On April 20, 2008 at 8:58 pm
did you know that your pupils also narrow when you lie.
alex
On April 25, 2008 at 7:30 am
well i feel we must see the reason behind why one must lie, like everything in the world, there are two sides to the story. basically life would be boring if everyone told truth and vice versa.
so lets not judge others for their actions, cause i am sure we all were in a situation where we had to lie,.
hytf
On June 27, 2008 at 8:46 am
gvvcfhgn
RANDM_LvzP@KManN_4foEzEv@XXX
On June 27, 2008 at 9:14 am
Heya Loved da site…lol I Just Figad out y ma pkm@n alwayz thinkz im liean!!! WeL at least i no now not2 keep sayan “to be honest wit ya” b4 i tel hym sumthan now kuz he alwayz thynkz im lyin to hym,.,.,
P.S I Love M@’E P@KManNXXX!!!…
Tum
On October 29, 2008 at 3:06 am
Can we bring back the Sean and Jonny show please?
Th3 Master Chief
On January 19, 2009 at 7:20 am
kool, thx, good topic and artical…i will defentliy look out for these things…and yer ima with Tom…Jonny and sean, keep arguing
nick
On January 30, 2009 at 10:27 pm
ya just today ive been looking up things on lying
folded arms CAN be a way to tell if someones lying
but like a lot of people said you could be cold
and ya if you were somewhere cold i would fold my arms i guess
but theres more things like no abbreviating words
for example: I DID NOT KILL THEM
instead of: I DIDN”T KILL THEM
theres just tons of stuff like this article says and i guess it all kinda depends on the environment like somewhere in the public or somewhere cold
nick
On January 30, 2009 at 10:29 pm
oh and to add on to the folding arms thing
its a way of creating a barrier between the people
like you would unconciously do this
same goes for something like a book or anything that can be moved to go in between the 2 people
nick
On January 30, 2009 at 10:35 pm
sorry im just on a roll here so i have to keep going
for the examples i used with “I DID NOT KILL THEM” and “I DIDN’T KILL THEM” the “I DID NOT KILL THEM” would be the lie
and along with the eye thing that Darlene McFarlane said
you can look in different directions upper right, to the right,lower right
then theres upper left,to the left,lower left
that all mean different things
melzy
On February 1, 2009 at 11:53 pm
hate to say it but .. for those of you dissing this you are not taking into consideration the controlled environment! .. if this is being used on a suspect .. they are given time in a room on their own or someone they feel comfortable with and the body language is compared … you can do the same just question it on a different day .. it works ..
nick
On February 5, 2009 at 2:57 pm
nice
Moefasuh
On February 6, 2009 at 1:18 pm
You all are liars, get over it and have a nice day (;
Moofawsuh
On February 6, 2009 at 1:19 pm
You all are liars, get over yourselves
nick
On February 6, 2009 at 4:09 pm
if you dont believe it then get off the site you dont need to be here
so ur reallly the one that needs to get over themself
Salina
On March 6, 2009 at 4:04 pm
at my school there is a theif who is taking shoes and books and hiding them and everyone in our class including our teacher thinks that it is this one girl but nobody has proof and this girl wont confess so we dont know what else to do we already cant talk get up or go out for recess and we have to go to the washroom with a partner to make sure they dont take any shoes and she still finds out a way to take/hide the shoes and books!!!
MEGan oca
On April 23, 2009 at 7:18 pm
thank you now i know if someone is lying to me..
some guy
On June 23, 2009 at 4:04 am
bring back sean and johny
Jay Bee
On July 7, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Seems everybody knows best. It would be nice if a professional would chime in. Personally, I managed many people over my career, and I can tell you that if you know what to look for, watching a person closely will definately tell you when they are not telling the truth.
quesitongirl
On July 24, 2009 at 12:20 am
if the persons heart beats fast while they are lying does it mean that they are lying????????
anderson
On August 10, 2009 at 12:27 pm
no
it deos not
Jane
On August 11, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Gee…why is it that so many people who comment on various things on the internet seem to enjoy so much being ugly?
adam
On January 2, 2010 at 7:10 pm
this helped alot because i’m doing a project on it for science.\
science fair.thx…..pce