How to Tell if Someone is Lying (2024)

FAQs

How to Tell if Someone is Lying? ›

The direction of their eyes: A 2012 study published in Plos One debunked the myth people look to the left when lying. A study by the University of Michigan found when participants lied, they maintained eye contact 70% of the time.

The direction of their eyes: A 2012 study published in Plos One debunked the myth people look to the left when lying. A study by the University of Michigan found when participants lied, they maintained eye contact 70% of the time.

Lack of contractions: When someone is accused of lying, they may be quick to deny allegations by using contractions — or shortened versions of words. For example, “I didn't!” or “I don't know anything!” Lack of personal pronouns: Liars know that getting caught can get them into trouble, so they drop personal pronouns.

The eyes: Someone who is lying might stare or look away at a crucial moment, says Glass — a possible sign they're moving their eyes around as they try to think about what to say next. The research conducted by Geiselman at UCLA corroborated this, finding that people sometimes look away briefly when lying.

Liars hedge their statements.

“As far as I recall…” “If you really think about it…” “What I remember is…” Hedged statements aren't an absolute indicator of deception, but an overuse of such qualifying phrases certainly should raise suspicion that a person isn't being totally up front with what he or she knows.

Often, pathological liars aren't aware of all the lies they tell, and they may believe them. This can be because, sometimes, pathological lying may develop as a coping mechanism or stem from a mental health disorder.

Many cheaters try to blame their partners.

For instance, they might say something like, “Well, if you weren't so distant all the time, I wouldn't have done it.” Or, “I only did it because our sex life has been so dull lately.” They might also try to blame the person they had an affair with.

How do innocent people act when accused? ›

Innocent people react to false accusations in a variety of ways. Common reactions include surprise and disbelief, denial of the accusation, anger and frustration, a desire to prove their innocence, and a willingness to cooperate with any efforts to investigate the situation.

A guilty person may avoid answering direct questions, refuse to provide information that could be used against them, or simply disappear altogether. Another telltale sign is that a guilty person may tend to lie or provide false explanations for their behavior.

Detecting a lie is not always as easy or straightforward as noticing unusual body language or behavior. However, the following are signs that could possibly be present if someone isn't telling the truth or they are withholding information: Avoiding eye contact. Being vague, or offering few details.

Once you have established a baseline and want to spot a lie, look for shifts in behavior. Look for inconsistencies in their story, exaggerated details, and avoiding eye contact. Liars tend to touch or cover their mouth more and shift in their seats. They may speak in a higher pitch or clearing their throat often.

There are many signs someone could be lying. For example, one may make too little or too much eye contact, sweat or flush in their face, fidget or enact unusual gestures, have trouble maintaining normal speech patterns, and have difficulty controlling the volume and tone of their voice.

The scientific literature suggests that in fact the eyes can give away a lie but it is pupil size, not gaze direction, that is most revealing. Research has shown that people tend to have larger pupils when deceiving compared to telling the truth in a range of scenarios.

Besides the frequency and duration of eye contact, there are other eye contact cues that can help you detect lies and deception. For instance, people may look up and to the right when fabricating or imagining something, and up and to the left when recalling or remembering something.

Once you have established a baseline and want to spot a lie, look for shifts in behavior. Look for inconsistencies in their story, exaggerated details, and avoiding eye contact. Liars tend to touch or cover their mouth more and shift in their seats. They may speak in a higher pitch or clearing their throat often.