Detecting Lies
Liars..
...are often worried about being caught or feel guilty, and are hence tense.
So they...
...speak in a higher pitched voice
...hesitate.
...make speech errors.
...move jerkily.
...do not 'remember' what they say happened.
...say things which are inconsistent.
...miss out irrelevant detail.
...are vague, missing out detail such as times, places and feelings.
...make up stuff.
...hesitate as they think about what to say.
...forget what they said (and so pause to try and remember).
...do not want to answer questions. ...cover the mouth.
...clamp the mouth shut, pressing lips together when you mention difficult topics.
...try to avoid answering key questions.
...digress and wander away from the real subject.
...try to distract you with other points of 'interest'.
...go along easily if you change the subject.
...try to confuse you.
...give complex answers.
...question minor detail of your questions.
...try to appear innocent, acting like a child.
...wide open eyes, raised eyebrows.
...enunciate speech carefully with more mouth movement.
...raise eyebrows in middle of face and pout.
...look like they are about to cry.
...are worried about what you might ask.
...talk a lot to use up the time.
...get 'emotional' to try and put you off.
...are worried about what they might say.
...use language carefully.
...pause to think before answering.
...give short answers.
...use a monotonous tone.
...fear eye contact will give the game away.
...avoid eye contact, turning eyes or head down or away.
...glance away just as they start lying.
...blink more often.
...rub their eyes more.
...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.
...watch you carefully for signs of suspicion.
...try to control language.
...use precise language.
...generalize ('always', 'nobody', etc.).
...do not use contractions (saying 'do not', vs. 'don't').
...try to control body language.
...hold the body rigid.
...leak signals then cover up fast.
...smile with the mouth but not the eyes.
...forget to control the lower body (which may twitch).
...'act', using exaggerated movements.
...cannot control body language.
...send conflicting signals with different parts of the body.
...have eye pupil dilation.
...shrug and grimace (usually for very brief periods).
...give the game away with lower-body signals.
...fidget, with hands and feet.
...move hands more.
...become aroused and speed up.
...talk faster.
...blink more.
...swallow more.
...move faster.
...feel threatened.
...attack, defend or deflect.
...place barriers in front of them, from arms to books to tables.
...need time to think.
...repeat the question.
...adjust their clothing.
...ramble on about inconsequential things.
...has slight delays in speech-body alignment.
...make up pictures and see them objectively, from the outside.
...try to keep neutral.
...describe things as if viewing them.
...look in a different place (usually up and often up-right) to where we look when remembering (as opposed to constructing) a picture.
...try to distance themselves from events.
...use less 'I' statements.
...use disclaimers ('you may not believe this, but...').
...flatly deny presence or involvement.
...get warmer. Sweat.
...skin gets redder or damper.
...rubbing affected area, particularly palms and head, especially the neck or nose.
...know about the above and over-compensate.
...appear too relaxed.
...keep a 'frozen face' to avoid leakage.
...hold themselves still with hands and arms.
...stare (blinking less).
...go too rigid.
...go into excessive detail.
...show no discrepancies at all.
...wear dark glasses.
