Were you disappointed to find that someone lied to you? Do you know how to identify when someone lies to you? Especially in an environment where you spend most of your life, that is, at workplace?
Are there signs we can look for when trying to detect a lie? Yeah, there are. Pay attention when someone talks to you and try to identify at least one of the 6 signs described below. Why not to practice this in your next meeting with your manager, for example? Or with your most-significant other?
1. They change their head position quickly
If you see someone suddenly make a head movement when you ask them a direct question, they may be lying to you about something.
“The head will be retracted or jerked back, bowed down, or cocked or tilted to the side,” writes Glass. This will often happen right before the person is expected to respond to a question.
2. They repeat words or phrases
This happens because they’re trying to convince you, and themselves, of something, she says. “They’re trying to validate the lie in their mind.” For example, he or she may say: “I didn’t…I didn’t…” over and over again, Glass says.
The repetition is also a way to buy themselves time as they attempt to gather their thoughts, she adds.
3. They provide too much information
“When someone goes on and on and gives you too much information — information that is not requested and especially an excess of details — there is a very high probability that he or she is not telling you the truth,” writes Glass.
“Liars often talk a lot because they are hoping that, with all their talking and seeming openness, others will believe them.”
4. They touch or cover their mouth
“A telltale sign of lying is that a person will automatically put their hands over their mouth when they don’t want to deal with an issue or answer a question,” says Glass.
“When adults put their hands over their lips, it means they aren’t revealing everything, and they just don’t want to tell the truth…They are literally closing off communication.” she says
5. They stare at you without blinking much
When people lie, it’s common that they break eye contact, but the liar could go the extra mile to maintain eye contact in attempt to control and manipulate you. “[Bernie] Madoff, like most con men, overcompensated and stared at people longer than usual, often without blinking at regular intervals,” says Glass.
“When people tell the truth, most will occasionally shift their eyes around and may even look away from time to time. Liars, on the other hand, will use a cold, steady gaze to intimidate and control.” Also watch out for rapid blinking.
6. They tend to point a lot.
“When a liar becomes hostile or defensive, he is attempting to turn the tables on you,” says Glass. The liar will get hostile because he is angry that you’ve discovered his lies, which may result in a lot of pointing.
In summary, these previous 6 signs as explained by Dr. Lillian Glass, a behavioral analyst and body language expert who has worked with the FBI on unmasking signals of deception, says when trying to figure out if someone is lying, you first need to understand how the person normally acts. Then you’ll want to pay careful attention to their facial expressions, body language, and speech patterns, she writes in her book “The Body Language of Liars.” The lyrics from the TV show Lie to Me says:
Send me a sign
Brand New Day – Ryan Star
Turn back the clock
Give me some time
I need to break out
And make a new name
Let’s open our eyes
To the brand new day
It doesn’t matter where: at home or at workplace, lie always will disappoints and causes some sort of damage. Sometimes irreversible.
Author: Alexandre Marins Augusto
Credits:
Business Insider Magazine;
Book “The Body Language of Liars by Dr.Lillian Glass.
Song: Brand New Day – Ryan Star
Song: Lie to Me – The Pretenders
Pictures: Fox (Cover)
August Alexander 