Spotting a Lie
Need an honest answer to a tough question; there’s a few things you need to look out for.
Maybe you’re ready to ask for a raise, or you think your mechanic is ripping you off. Whatever the question, you want the truth but how do you know you’re getting it? To help separate fact from fiction Yahoo and Readers Digest put together a list of seven signs to look for when you suspect someone is lying to you.
First, pay attention to how the person is speaking. A change in voice is usually a telltale sign but experts say you should also listen closely to their speech rate and breathing pattern. If either of the two suddenly speeds up or slows down, then check out your leg. Chances are its being pulled. Other signs to watch out for include their words, their facial expressions and their body language. Sometimes the type of question you ask can help you decipher what you’re being told.
To see more tell tale signs to watch out for keep reading. After all it’s not everyone’s growing nose that will give them away.
1. How is the person speaking?
Although a change in voice can be the tip-off to a lie, experts say that to be sure, you should also pay attention to a person's speech rate and breathing pattern -- if either speeds up or slows down, chances are you're not hearing the whole truth.
2. What is the person saying?
Liars tend to avoid exclusionary words like "but," "nor," "except," and "whereas," because they have trouble with complex thought processes. Liars are less likely to use the words "I," "me," and "mine." In their attempts to distance themselves psychologically from their tall tales, liars will tend to communicate using fewer personal pronouns.
3. Is his face giving it away?
You may think disguising your true feelings is easily accomplished with the help of a smile, but the expressions that flash across your face will give away what you're really thinking -- whether you know it or not. Experts advise paying close attention to the micro-expressions that a face can't hide. These clues are often so difficult to detect that even trained experts have trouble discerning them.
4. How is the person smiling?
A smile can sometimes mask a person's true feelings. Pay close attention to how a person smiles as well as other facial movements. You may be able to detect the emotions he or she is trying to hide -- such as fear, anger, and disgust. A true smile will incorporate both a person's lips and eyes.
5. Does the body language follow the story?
It's more important to examine a person's entire demeanor, as there's no one feature that's apt to give away a liar. Honesty is characterized by features that are in sync with one another -- so besides posture, note the fit between face, body, voice, and speech.
6. Is your subject behaving uncharacteristically?
Experts believe changes in a person's baseline -- how she generally conducts herself -- are worthy of your attention. You should weigh rate of speech, tone of voice, posture, and hand gestures against what you know, along with the context of the situation.
7. Is the question simple or embarrassing?
It's normal for someone to look away when asked a difficult question. But when someone avoids your gaze when asked a simple question, you should be suspicious.
