How Can You Tell When Someone Is Lying?
In a perfect world, everyone would be straightforward and honest. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. As you do not want to be scammed or feel foolish by believing someone who is dishonest, you can learn to determine when someone is lying to you.
Tone Of Voice May Indicate Someone is Lying
You may have noticed most people’s tone of voice, or pitch, changes when they are experiencing strong emotions. It is perfectly natural for a person’s tone to change when he is expressing joy, excitement, sadness, or anger. However, you can recognize it as a sign of lying when no strong emotions are present.
His pitch may become lower or higher when making a statement or in response to a question. This can show he is not truthful in what he is saying.
Foot Movement
When you are checking his body language for signs of lying, notice his feet. When a person lies, he may experience nervousness and anxiety. Unusual foot movements can be a sign that he is uncomfortable answering your question, and that he is not telling the truth.
Speech Errors
When you are being lied to, the individual may exhibit errors in his speech. It may take him longer to reply than if he were telling the truth. If he is nervous about lying, his sentences may include extra “ahs” or “ums.”
His Breathing
When some individuals lie, their breathing patterns are different from when they are being honest. You may notice the person take a deep breath, that he holds his breath, or that his breathing is deeper than usual.
Stiffness
You may notice parts of his body become stiff when he is telling a lie. This can include his face, shoulders, or his whole body. He is bracing himself to tell you something that is not true. Even his facial expression may appear stiff.
His Hands
When someone is lying, you may notice some differences with his hands. He may touch his face, rub or scratch some other part of his body.
Signs of lying often include hiding the palms. The person may close his hands so his palms are hidden from you.
Lack Of Motion
Although nervousness often accompanies lying, not everyone fidgets or shuffles their feet when they are telling lies. As an example, you may have asked a question that puts him on the defensive. When this occurs, he may be completely still when he lies to you.
Eye Movement
The direction a person’s eyes move can indicate whether he is lying or telling the truth. The general viewpoint is if a right-handed person looks directly right, or up and to the right, he is recalling a fact from memory. In contrast, if he looks directly left, or up and left, he is constructing what he plans to say.
It is important to note left-handed people will do the opposite. Before you conclude a person’s honesty based on his eye movements, you should know which hand is his dominant hand.
The Lips
When someone is lying, his lip and mouth motions can be different than usual. He may suck or bite his lips, or lick his lips, although this is not a part of his usual behavior.
Eye Contact
When the average person tells a lie, his degree of eye contact will be different than it is under normal circumstances. He may avoid eye contact entirely, glance at you only briefly, or appear to be focused on something else. He does not want you to know he is telling a lie, and may even be embarrassed about doing so.
Not Everyone Is Average
These body language signs are usually quite accurate for average, normal people. However, not everyone is average or normal. Signs you are being lied to can be much different when the individual you are dealing with is a pathological liar.
An individual who is a pathological liar believes he has the right to lie and to get away with it. The signs of nervousness or discomfort that apply to average people do not apply to him. There is one sure sign of pathological lying.
Instead of avoiding eye contact or shifting his eye contact, he is likely to display consistent eye contact. He will stare at you or gaze at you. While it may seem like he is trying to convince you he is telling the truth, it is more like a challenge or a dare. He is challenging you to confront him on his lie.
Knowing when you are lied to can make life much easier. You will know who you can trust and who is untrustworthy. You can decide whether to dismiss a lie, confront the person, or avoid him altogether. When you are familiar with these body language signs, you can have confidence when communicating with people in your life.