As hard as it may be for us to admit, we’ve all lied at one time or another. In fact, we lie more than we think . At least that’s what the data from a research that was published in “Liespotting: Proven Techniques to Detect Deception”, an editorial work by Pamela Meyer, seems to indicate.

The researchers of this study conclude that we humans tell lies between 10 and 200 times a day , because we tend to omit parts of the truth or exaggerate things when we talk to other people. In other words, we tend to say things that are socially acceptable. If we feel that what we have to say is not well received by the other party, we add some fallacy or other to the conversation.

Lying is common when we meet someone new

However, the results of the investigations regarding the lie provide more data. In fact, we tend to lie more when we have just met a person . “We tell two or three lies during the first 10 minutes of the first conversation with someone we have just met,” says Robert Feldman, professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts and author of the book The liar in your life .

But despite telling quite a few lies, when it comes to detecting them when someone tells them, we are not very good at it . According to a study by Brigham Young University in the United States, when someone lies to us, we only notice it 54% to 56% of the time.

How to Catch a Liar

Finding out a liar is complicated , and it can be a challenge to know if someone is lying to you. Even detecting that there may be something wrong with someone’s words, when you are not clear about whether they are being honest or not, hundreds of thoughts go through your mind. There is always that doubt or possibility that you are wrong in your suspicions.

Fortunately, thanks to the people who have been concerned about investigating this phenomenon, today we know that there are some factors that can give away those who lie; a knowledge that is very useful especially in Forensic Psychology. These keys to detecting lies are the following :

1. Non-verbal language

Obviously, we must pay attention to the context before we can say whether the person is lying or not, although there are a number of non-verbal signs that could indicate that a person is lying. Therefore, if you suspect what someone is saying to you, you can pay more attention to the gestures instead of the words .

Liars tend to keep their hands to themselves. That is, they put their hands together, hold them behind their backs or put them in their pockets. They also find it difficult to sit upright and have a rather tense posture. Some experts also say that covering the mouth or scratching the nose could indicate that the person is hiding something, as it is a way of not revealing microexpressions .

The look seems to be key to detecting lies because if the liar has to think of something, he can move his sight slightly upwards or to the left (right-handed) or to the right (left-handed). If you look directly into their eyes, they usually avoid eye contact .

2. Breathing

Breathing could indicate that a person is lying. His or her breathing is usually faster and the mouth is usually dry , as the person is in a rather tense situation, and wants to avoid being caught at all costs. This can lead to constant swallowing. In reality, this happens because your heart beats faster and your lungs require more air than in a crying situation.

3. How she speaks

Since the person is lying and his breathing is affected, his speech is also different . Experts say that he either speaks faster or speaks more slowly than normal. Also, when a person tells a lie, his or her voice may become louder, as the tension makes the vocal cords tense. If you put the liar on the spot, he or she is more likely to stutter.

4. What it says

When we lie, we feel more vulnerable and uncomfortable (unless we’re psychopaths), and even though the person is an experienced liar, they won’t want to get caught. This makes him try to change the subject quickly to prevent the lie from getting out of hand. Also, it is less likely that the liar will use the words “me” and “mine” in an attempt to distance himself psychologically from his false stories.

5. Connection between what you say and what you do

Instead of looking at the behaviors separately, it is more important to make an overall assessment of everything involved. When a person is honest, what they say and what they do are synchronized and form a coherent whole. Not only that, but they are also synchronized with the situation.

If you know the person who is lying, it may be easier to detect their fallacy, as experts believe that you can check whether there is a change from their usual behaviour and whether there is little consistency between what is said and what is done (as the Simpsons series hilariously showed us). Also, when someone simulates an emotion, it can only be seen around the mouth. For example, for the emotion of joy, just move your mouth, instead of moving your jaw, forehead, and eyes.

6. Sweat

Lying causes even experienced liars to feel some degree of stress or pressure. And when we lie, even if it’s a minor lie, we sweat more . This happens because sweating is a natural response to stress. So, sweating is quite common when telling a lie and a signal to detect a liar.

7. On the defensive

Liars smile less because they are in a tense situation, but if you test them on top of that, they usually become extremely defensive . If you ask them a question, they may avoid it and even refuse to answer, and if you get them to answer they will do so with a “Why do you want to know that? or “That’s not important now” style of phrase. This will happen because they are probably on the ropes.

How to spot a liar by WhatsApp

If it’s hard enough to spot a liar face-to-face, it’s even worse when the person is talking to you on WhatsApp. In this situation, you can’t observe their non-verbal language, hear their tone of voice, know if they’re sweating… and you can’t tell if what they say and do are consistent either.

Now, an investigation seems to have found the key to detecting liars in a conversation over this application.

  • If you want to know more about this topic, you can read our article: “How can I tell if I’m being lied to by WhatsApp?