Deception Tips Podcast

Deception Tip 22: Seated liars will often lock their ankles and may even tuck them back in an attempt to minimize their body and block off the perceptions of others.

Deception Tip 21: When a target suggests the correct answer, a liar’s face will freeze for less than a split second, like a deer in the headlights. Eyes open and mouth in an ‘O’ shape.

Deception Tip 20: Liars often display increased eye contact. As if to see that the target believes their lie.

Deception Tip 19: Contempt is the only asymmetrical facial expression. Liars may display it when targets suggest incorrect, or inept, answers.

Deception Tip 18: Liars often use distancing language when speaking about someone they would like to avoid being associated with. Example: That man instead of his name.

Deception Tip 17: Liars add lots of detail to their stories and can be overly specific. Whereas truth tellers use more general statements and estimations.

Deception Tip 16: Beware of asymmetrical gestures, as truthful expressions are symmetrical. Shoulder shrugs more prominent on one side may be indicative of deception.

Deception Tip 15: Liars rehearse the events of their story in order. To trip them up, ask them to tell it in reverse. Often times they will be unable to do so.

Deception Tip 14: Truthful facial expressions of emotion appear naturally and are symmetrical. Deceptive facial expressions appear at will and are asymmetrical.

Deception Tip 13: Let the liar speak. Stay silent. Often times, liars will continue to speak until they believe the target believes their lie. They may contradict themselves thus revealing the truth.

Deception Tip 12: Truthful words and gestures occur simultaneously. In contrast, lying words and gestures will be out of sync. Example: Pointing after speaking.

Deception Tip 11:  Liars will seize any opportunity to be believed. Therefore, it is very likely that the liar will accept lies told by the target even if they may be incriminating.

Deception Tip 10: A quick answer of yes or no, followed by a delayed explanation, may suggest deception, as the person might have been thinking about their response.

Deception Tip 9: Some liars may make positive statements negative, or vice versa, to provide quick answers to the question. Example: Did you… No, I did not do…

Deception Tip 8: Liars will often unconsciously place object(s) between themselves and the target as a defensive barrier.

Deception Tip 7: It is essential to look for clusters, or patterns, of behavior when detecting deception. Liars always display more than one sign.

Deception Tip 6:  When a liar is questioned, vulnerability may be shown by unconsciously covering the genital area. Either with folded hands or an object.

Deception Tip 5: Guilty people often avoid using contractions as if to emphasize their innocence. Example: using did not instead of didn’t.

Deception Tip 4: While reciting a rehearsed lie, it is difficult to perform physical tasks, such as making coffee. The liar will most likely stand perfectly still with items in hand.

Deception Tip 3: Contradictory behaviors, such as saying no while nodding yes, are often displayed by liars.