Have you ever wished that you could tell when someone is lying to you? Whether you’re dealing with Mike the mechanic from the local repair shop, or watching one of our beloved politicians on prime time, learning how to ferret out deception is a deserving skill in a world very unlike Pleasantville. It is in this final post on How to Read People, that I go into detail about how you can detect lies.
How to Read People - Series
1. Preparing to Read People
2. Beyond the Words (techniques)
3. Detecting Lies
Human communication is an extremely complex exchange. While speaking, a person produces around 75-100 verbal and nonverbal cues per second. With the average person capable of only processing around 7 bits of information at one time, it’s no wonder that so many of us can be deceived!
There seems to be some limitation built into us whether by learning or by the design of our nervous systems, a limit that keeps our channel capacities in this general range - determined by George Miller author of The Magical Number Seven.
Because of our apparent limitation in conscious processing, the average Joe can only detect lies with about 50% accuracy. With the skills that you’ve learned in the previous post on reading people, it brings this level to around 65%. Through mastery of the techniques presented here, your ability can increase to 90% accuracy!
If you have any hesitation in ever meeting me, for fear that I’ll unveil your deepest secrets, let it be known that I haven’t yet reached this level. This is why I’ve created this site to help you and me. However, I am constantly practicing these skills, and have noticed a tremendous increase so far in my abilities to read others…so beware! 
It is important to note that this article deals mainly with the principles behind lie detection. There are many sites/books that explain the techniques, however without a knowledge and a foundation in the principles you will not be successful.
The Principles of Lie Detection
The process of detecting lies is found in Behavior Analysis. For the purpose of lie detection, behavior analysis is the study of the verbal and nonverbal cues of truthfulness. Since lie detection is a subset of reading people, it follows the same 4 principles as discussed in the previous article:
- Establish a baseline behavior in your subject - make note of any deviation (this is THE KEY to lie detection!!)
- Recognize the related clusters (patterns) of deception
- Challenge and refine your assumptions through observation and questioning (continue w/ step 3 and 4 until you…)
- Make your decision
Unlike what you may at first suspect, you are in fact first studying what truth looks and sounds like, not deception. After establishing how they behave when they’re being truthful (the baseline), you’ll be able to recognize any departure from this ‘normal’ state - which may be a lie!
The Process
To understand how this works, let’s study an example. Assume you are dealing with a used-car salesman and you want to make sure that he’s not selling you a lemon. Begin by creating a framework of non-invasive questions to establish his normal, baseline behavior. Essentially you want to ask questions in which you’re sure he’ll tell the truth. It may go something like this:
YOU: Now, if I decide I want this car today, what are the steps I need to take?
HIM: explains to you…
YOU: So, how long have you been in business? (he’s unlikely to lie since this can be confirmed, if he does then you already have your answer)
HIM: goes on to tell about the history of the place
YOU: Since I’m in the area today, what restaurants do you recommend? What kind of food do they serve?
HIM: tells you about his favorite place…
If you noticed, none of these questions were invasive. Also, he has no incentive to lie about these things. While you are listening to him, pay attention to his voice, eyes, body language and facial expressions. Where does he look when he’s describing his favorite dish? What are his hands doing as he’s explaining? What’s the general pitch and tone of his voice? Is he leaning toward or away from you? Does he tend to overly gesticulate?
When you feel pretty confident that you recognize his baseline, you can now ask him the questions that you really want to know. These will be questions about the quality and history of the car, it’s maintenance record, etc. It’s at this point that you want to look for those patterns that aren’t in harmony with his baseline.
The Verbal Clusters of Deception
Verbal clusters are generally the least reliable of all the deception patterns. However, combined with the other clusters, they can improve detection accuracy. The main issue with verbal patterns is that they can be rehearsed, but this can be avoided through spontaneous questioning.
General Verbal Responses
- May take longer to start answering
- May answer to quickly or before the question is completed
- Often ask the questioner to repeat the question or they repeat it themselves
- Overly polite or apologetic dialog
- Persistent complaints
- Unnatural silence
The Behavioral Clusters of Deception
Deceptive people follow certain behavioral patterns. These can be viewed from the most apparent (macro-patterns) to the almost imperceptible (micro-patterns). Here’s the progression from largest to smallest:
- Macro Patterns -
General Behaviors:
- Increased discomfort and anxiety
- Hostility
- Unmerited anger towards you
- Persistent evasiveness
- Resistance
Posture:
- Early signs of extreme rigidity followed by alternating stiffness and relaxation
- Hands, legs, objects put in front of body to form a barrier (folding arms, crossing legs, etc.)
- Feigned lack of interest
- Posture changes caused by topic changes
- Not facing you
- Distancing or leaning away from you
Gestures and Movements:
- Rubbing the forehead near the temple region
- Squeezing the face, rubbing the neck, or stroking the back of the head with the hand.
- Using fewer hand movements to illustrate their actions than usual
- Movement away from you
- Lip licking and hard swallowing
- Wringing hands
- Hiding the eyes
There are two psychological reasons behind the source of these macro patterns. The first is the brain’s inability to differentiate a real physical threat from a perceived one. This awakens the ‘fight or flight’ instinct and explains the hostility, anger, evasiveness or physical attempts to move away from you.
The second reason is that psychological stress increases anxiety so much that we cannot store it internally anymore. This leads to an external overflow, explaining the fidgeting, hand rubbing, sweating, lip licking, leg bouncing etc. When you see ’stress overflow’ try asking yourself what it may mean. If it arose as a result of your questioning, then it may point to deception.
- Micro Patterns -
The micro patterns are all expressed on the face. And again there is a continuum from largest to smallest:
General Expressions:
- Averting the eyes
- Focusing the eyes - some will try to stare down to show control. (A truthful person stares only half the time on average)
- Face whitening (indicates fear)
- Face flushing (indicates anger or shame)
Eye-Accessing Cues
In the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) they use the phenomenon of eye-accessing cues to help recognize patterns of thinking. By the direction of where the person’s eyes are looking, you can determine whether they are using vision, sound or kinesthetic (feeling) to trigger their thinking.
If this represents a person facing you then when they look up and to the left (your upper right) they’ll be accessing a visual memory. Up and to the right (again, your upper left) means that they’re visually constructing (imagining) something. To your right, they’re remembering a sound, to your left, they’re creating a sound. Down right, the person is accessing a bodily feeling or emotion. Down left (your down right), they are accessing inner dialog (talking to themselves).
If, for example, you were asking your child where they got the candybar, and they look to their ‘constructing’ side, then you can be sure they’re fabricating the story.
Keep in mind that this is reversed for left-dominant people (left handers). So before you can use this, be aware of which of their sides is the dominant one.
Micro Expressions
Clearly the most difficult to master, however if you do, this can give you a 90% success rate at detecting lies.
In the nineteen-sixties, renowned psychologist Paul Ekman began decoding the language of facial expressions. He organized them into a syntax of language which he termed “action units” - the set of all distinct muscular movements that the face could make. This totaled to only 46 individual movements, but in combination with each other, the face is capable of producing over 7000 unique expressions!
Luckily for us, we don’t have to memorize each one or its meaning, just be able to perceive the inconsistent “micro-expressions” that one makes during deceit. The FBI and CIA use Ekman’s methods to determine any deception from suspects during interrogations. And their ability to percieve it is amazing. This is due to the fact that some of the muscles involved in expressions are not under conscious control.
This is clearly the case when we feel strong emotions, but wish to supress or hide them. Those expressions of emotion appear on our faces, even if only for a fraction of a second. It probably explains our intuitive feelings that someone is being dishonest, because subconsciously we’re picking up on these expressions. These fleeting, almost imperceptible looks are what’s called “micro-expressions.”
When people lie, they try to hide the fact through altering their voluntary facial expressions (macro expressions) and body language to appear in harmony with their words. Because of this, the face will hold accurate as well as misleading information. Unfortunately, most people respond to the macro expressions and become decieved; However, a few keen observers can detect these micro expressions as well as other imperfections in the macro displays, and are correctly informed.
For example, distinguishing between a fake smile, one that can be performed at will, and a real smile, which is generated by the unconscious brain, comes down to awareness of the action units involved in a genuine smile. (Here’s a great link from the BBC which provides a test to determine if you can determine a genuine smile from a fake one through recognizing these micro expressions: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/smiles/index.shtml
According to Ekman, deception will most always show up in the face as an inconsistency between the micro and macro expressions. Even though most people are not attuned to the recognition of micro expressions, most can learn to become sensitive to them.
For more information about this, training materials, and workshops check out Paul Ekman’s site
Conclusion
As you learn to establish the baseline behavior of honesty, recognize deception clusters that deviate from this baseline, and progressively refine your assumptions through questioning and observations, you will be well on your way to becoming an amazing lie detector. Remember to look at things as a whole. The more patterns you can discover that seem to point in one direction, the more accurate your detection will be.
I want to thank you for hanging in there! This series (long winded at times, I know) on How to Read People has hopefully been a help to you in your desire for personal growth and knowledge. Feel free to leave any comments of your experiences or experiments with these skills.
This has been a very well written series! It’s not often I look forward to the “next part”, but I found myself drawn to the subject.
Do you have any recommendations on what books and resources I could turn to for further learning?
Left by Brian on November 15th, 2006
Brian,
Good question. There are quite a few books out there on the subject, however most of them aren’t very good or practical. One that I highly recommend for general people reading (which I covered in the last post) is, Reading People
by Jo Ellen Dimitrius. This book is excellent.
Left by Erich on November 15th, 2006
I’m recovering from a divorce and find myself in social intelligence
Left by Lee on December 3rd, 2006
Oops! Hit submit at the wrong time! I’m working on improving my social intelligence to rebuild a social network and love life. I can see that this post and the rest of your site is going to be very useful to me. I’ll contribute one day, after I recover from the effects of a radical walletectomy. Thank you for the profuse (profligate?) profundity, there’s so much garbage out there you can’t imagine how refreshing it is to have stumbled across this oasis of style and substance.
Left by Lee on December 3rd, 2006
Hey Lee,
Thanks for your kind words! Hang in there my friend. There are indeed wonderful women out there (my wife being one of them) as well as so many things to be grateful for. I’m sure you will find your path.
Best regards,
Erich
Left by Erich on December 3rd, 2006
This advice is very useful to me, as I am becoming a professional poker player. Thanks.
Andrew…
Left by Andrew on January 9th, 2007
I found this training quite valuable to me and was somewhat of a refresher since I used to work with NLP years ago. My question is, how can you tell someone is lying over the phone…..someone you haven’t’ met? I’m hearing inconsistencies but don’t have any way of confirming or denying anything that’s being said to me. Sometimes my gut tells me the person is not being sincere or honest with me. I hate to accuse them of lying without my own facts. How do I proceed?
Thanks for any input anyone can provide.
Left by Alfie on January 31st, 2007
I find this a genious guide, very well put, and its helped me alot in school making decisions about people. Im glad i realized certain things about people. Lie detecting to…
Hope to here more from you!
Oh, by the way, i would REALLY consider righting a book.
Thanks for writing this, MUCH appreciated-
Ryan
Left by Ryan on March 20th, 2007
Ryan,
Thanks for the words of appreciation and encouragement! You’re very welcome.
- Erich
Left by Erich on March 20th, 2007
Very useful information for me! Using it on my girlfriend! Thank you!!
Left by Zach on April 1st, 2007
lol. I hope you’re not reading too deep Zach
Left by Erich on April 1st, 2007
Reading people is important/interesting/fun, but if you are analyzing someone important to you to see if they are lying, you should ask yourself about the big picture about your relationship with that person.
Left by Garrett on April 18th, 2007
Good point Garrett. Well spoken.
Left by Erich on April 18th, 2007
As a professional interrogator for the past 18 years, I’d endorse much of the material in these articles. However, I’d take out the word “almost” regarding the “almost imperceptible…micro-expressions”. These are impossible to catch with the naked eye. Slow motion video playback, yes, but only VERY rarely have I seen a recognizable micro-expression. And, I’d caution people about utilizing any type of NLP. The research into this has taken several its in recent years. The eye movement chart listed here is not very accurate. SOME people (I won’t even say most) react with eye movements similar to those listed on the chart. MOST people need to be “calibrated” (establish a norm behavior for eye movements as well) in order to understand what they mean. I try to get people to visually recall information (”tell me what you saw”), then ask them to visually create something (”describe your dream house or car, what does it look like?, what color?”, etc.); and so on for other cues/eye movements. “Spelling tests” also work well (ask to spell a three or more syllable word- otherwise they look you dead in the face, they have to “recall” the info– “c-a-t” won’t work), then I make up a word for them to spell (”insagrievious”). You’ve just told them to effectively “lie” to you– watch the eye movements and where they go and their behavior.
And I’d back up all the cautions listed here, the skills here take years to develop and you almost have to have an innate curiosity about human behavior to be successful at it.
Left by Jim on April 18th, 2007
Jim,
Thanks for your comments and suggestions!
Left by Erich on April 19th, 2007
Unfortunately I am one of the many people that looks up and to the right when they are recalling. For this reason I really detest these sorts of generalizations as they paint me and others as liers when we are not.
Left by Michael on April 25th, 2007
Michael,
Any chance you’re left-handed? Left-handed people many times have just the opposite eye movements as listed in the chart. My son (whose ambidextrous) behaves just the opposite of the chart.
One more caution (which was triggered by Michael’s comment)– Beware the environment. I asked a person about a phone conversation, he continually looked down and to his right to answer every question. I thought “this must be HIS behavior to auditory recall”– until I saw the phone on my desk, exactly where he was looking. He was a visual person and associated with visual cues. That was the way he worked. Everyone works differently. I tend to rely the least on the eye movements and only take them into consideration with other behavior.
Left by Jim on May 2nd, 2007
If zach is using this on his girlfriend i think he may be questioning their relationship. It is totally wrong! if i were ur girlfriend i would break up with you on the spot when i found out… srry zach!
Left by Angi on May 10th, 2007
First thing is first, does anyone check this thing anymore? I noticed the last reply was a bit distant… Anyways, the question I hold is how would I go about telling if someone is lying to me over the phone? I have a very strange ability to almost full-proof tell if someone is lying to me if I see them, just something I have built in I suppose. But when it comes to a phone conversation it all sounds the same to me! Heh, so what do I do about that? There are very few “voice” give-aways listed here.
Left by TJ on July 11th, 2007
I have some issues with “lie detection” techniques. First off, most of them only work if the person is basically honest and is uncomfortable with situations in which they feel the need to lie.
Second, a lot of these techniques will spot someone as a liar when they are being truthful, especially when your dealing with someone who has been the victim of false accusations, or was abused by a parent or stepparent who punished them for a sibling’s misdeeds. This can make a person very defensive. Also, if you’re asking someone questions on a subject that is uncomfortable or painful to discuss, they may well show the same nervous mannerisms described here.
Third, a person with a neurological disorder such as Asperger’s may not make appropriate eye contact, have flat facial expressions, etc. just because the wiring in their brain that is responsible for these emotional responses isn’t connected up properly.
Sorry, but I just don’t think this information is reliable
Left by Loretto on July 16th, 2007
Woah, sweet, definately gonna use this action to negate all lying action. Ball punch to the max!
Left by Frank Sinatra on September 26th, 2007
Thanks alot!
I got great help and i can tell almost every time my friends lie!
Seriously recommend to anyone who passes this site!
Left by joon on October 26th, 2007
Joon,
Thanks for stopping by.
Left by Erich on October 29th, 2007
Like Andrew, I am a professional poker player and reading deception is very important to my success as a player. I once found myself at a Detroit casino waiting in last position to fold my meager pair of 4’s with the first bet made in front of me. When everyone checked to the player on my right I intentionally kept my eyes on my cards until he acted, as I suspected he might take a bluff stab at the pot. He did and I immediately snapped my eyes up to make eye contact. He flinched and went ever so slightly pail. I called. He sheepishly tossed in his cards as I showed the 4’s. The player on my left was amazed that I had called a board full of mid to high cards and commented: “You got a read on him didn’t ya.”
Thanks for the great information and links you provide.
Left by Wayne on October 31st, 2007
Andrew,
Nice… The dual benefit of being in last position combined with lie detection techniques. Thanks for the cool story!
Left by Erich on October 31st, 2007
Please send me more info. on how to hone my lying skills.
Left by Sandra on December 13th, 2007
he he
Left by Erich on December 14th, 2007
Very cool stuff, wish I had found this site before my divorce! The techniques are brilliant and well, sort of common sense in a way; nevertheless I enjoyed reading this article. The simple truth is that everyone lies….either to protect themselves or another, to reduce shock or pain or embarrassment from that part of you that enjoys creating or living in falsehood. I think lying is much bigger than not telling the truth! Thanks.
Left by Gregg on December 15th, 2007
Gregg,
Good points, thanks for your insight.
- Erich
Left by Erich on December 15th, 2007
Loretto makes some valid points. Mental illness or diminished mental capacity can make a difference (including alcohol and drug consumption). And (not trying to be funny), but adolescents (children and teens) as well. See, most of what you’re detecting are not “lies” but stress caused by these lies. People with the previously mentioned “conditions” suffer from less stress when they lie. It’s also the reason why “white lies” are very hard to detect. There is less stress involved in telling those lies. And I’ve read a couple of poker players comments on this. THAT is stress. Playing for money is stressful, hence some very detectable behavior (of stress). There was a study comparison done by the John E. Reid folks that looked into this. See, most psychological studies put even professionals at a little better than 50% at detecting deception (college students told to lie in an interview were only detected about half the time). But the Reid folks went better. They put money on the line. The students were told if they successfully lied there was a reward (I think it was $50). The rate of detection went from 50% to 86%.
Left by Jim on December 15th, 2007
Interesting points Jim. Thanks for the contribution!
Left by Erich on December 17th, 2007
thank you for this useful information it really help me out on lots of stuff your the best……
Left by lae phetdara on December 19th, 2007
thank you Lae!
Left by Erich on December 19th, 2007
i really enjoyed reading this series, if you have any other information that is helpful and if its not to much to ask could you email it to me mrkilian@live.com
Left by derek on December 26th, 2007
i cant really explain it but when i meet peple sometimes i can almost instantly eor in some cause i have to be around them for alittle, but any way i can all most instantly know things about them like their problems and personal life . i am in school and like i will tyell them i can read them they ok ok or what ever and i just like tell them and they ask me how i know this stuff in some cases they start to cry becuse of the stuff i tell them. its like when i talk to them i can all most feel there problems and how they feel alm ost like i am them forn a minute. it could just mean i am a good obsever but do you have any insight on it.
Left by m21 on February 2nd, 2008
Very good article. I found it extreamly helpful and will have you know that I will start practicing right away.
Left by Travis on February 28th, 2008
M21,
It sounds like you are a natural. Some people just intuitively know what others are saying/thinking without any way to really explain it.
- Erich
Left by Erich on March 3rd, 2008
Travis,
Definitely check in with your success.
- Erich
Left by Erich on March 3rd, 2008
Perhaps this might be a result of being too paranoid or something alike, but ive already decided to write up a list of questions alike to the ones listed above in your article and ask my friends and family them just to see who are the most likely to lie.
thanks a lot for the article, its reasonably in-depth yet still easyily readable and touching on a subject many would rather be better at.
-Alex
Left by Alex on March 3rd, 2008
I really enjoyed this article. I am only 17 and still in high school but I found this very interesting. I like to think that i have some talent in reading people and helping people with problems and was originally using this article to see if i used some of the same methods. It turns out I do and I found some new ones to try out. So thank you very much Erich and if you would happen to have any other tips or suggestions to help me hone my skills please email me.
Thanks Again
-Chase
Left by Chase on March 5th, 2008
Thank you very much, I am currently doing a study on kinesis, and the information provided helps a lot.
Left by Irina on March 9th, 2008
Out of all of the articles on lie detecting that I’ve read, this is the most insightful and well written. Now I’m no pro poker player, interrogator, spy etc… but I, like M21 have a fairly good grasp on weather someone is lying or not. I’m a sophomore in high school trying to learn as much as he can from the internet (even if some of it isn’t credible). I was simply wondering if you could 1 send me a bit more info. I have a great interest in psychology/the subconscious and 2 help me contact M21, It’s not to often you meet someone with a similar skill like that.
Either way, I appreciate the article, and good luck with whatever you choose to do in the future.
Left by Jonathan on March 22nd, 2008
Jonathan,
First of all, I would highly recommend you buying the book, “Reading People” by Joe-Ellen Dimitrius. She goes into a lot more detail than I do in these articles.
As far as contacting M21, I cannot give out any personal info (privacy rights) but you may try to reach out to him through these comments.
thanks for visiting!
- Erich
Left by Erich on March 23rd, 2008
Hm I was just reading this and was thinking how it would work for an expert on this to analyze me, since I have severe social phobia disorder if any of you guys understand that. It would probably mess with the person alot thinking I am lying all the time or something. I can barely go out of the house and my face goes bright red when a person even says hello to me so I wonder how this would work on various mental illnesses. Interesting read though.
Left by Mike on May 18th, 2008
Mike,
Those are some great comments. All in all it’s all about finding the natural ‘baseline’ of the person…that is finding how they normally act/react. If nervousness is your baseline state when interacting with people then finding what is out of harmony with that baseline is key to determining deception.
- Erich
Left by Erich on May 20th, 2008
[...] well. Perverts, sexual predators and weirdoes come in both sexes, all sizes, and all ages…as do, liars and cheaters. So men need to stay on guard, [...]
Left by Online Dating Safety For Men | Self Help Station on June 17th, 2008
Great article! Am taking a class w/ Dr. Knapp, an expert in nonverbal comm, reading people, a and lying and I find this entire thing very interesting. Thanks!
Left by Toni on June 27th, 2008
Thanks for visiting Toni!
Left by Erich on June 27th, 2008
Hi, I don’t know if its at all possible to learn techniques on how to detect and improve your abilit to read people. I think it basically lies in your makeup as a person ie like emotional IQ, so is the same with social IQ; You are either switched on or off.If you are born wired that way or not. I have met people who have tried most of the methods described here and earnestly too, yet failed miserably at improving their ability to read others; Yet there are others who have the inherent ability to do so which I guess most refer to as gut instinct. I am a believe of either you have it or you don’t.
Finally, there are complex people and “simple” people out there. You might turn around and measure your “success” based on reading a larger group of the easier people to read. My two cents worth !
Left by Sharon on August 4th, 2008
Erich, these articles are finominal and have really helped me i knew this kid that could really get to me and i was thinking that he was figuring me out but after reading this i was able to get back at him and change it up. Plus i’m in High school and kids lie a lot so this will help me.
Thanks,
Greg
Left by Greg on September 8th, 2008
well this was some helpfull couse this morning i put a 3 page letter in my jacet from my boyfreand. I gave my jacet to a freand couse she sead she was cold and I had 4 got that it was in my coat and then I whent looking 4 her and then I found her and she sead she gave the letter to my other freaind. Then I asked her she sead a gye took it so I asked him and so now I’m mad couse there runing me around and I’m so mad couse there suposed to be my freand this really hurts alot.
Left by sheena stevens on October 21st, 2008
Sheena,
Sorry to hear that. I hope it works out for you…
- Erich
Left by Erich on October 21st, 2008
thank you very much for such type of posts
i learned alot from this and i m using it in my day to day life
Left by harry on November 13th, 2008
Harry,
You’re very welcome! Thanks for reading.
- Erich
Left by Erich on November 14th, 2008
Erich, this by far is one of the most interesting reads ever!, i iwll read through serveral times before i fully grasp the concept and ideology behind it but of all the different guides i have read on amny different things this is by far the most in-depth, the repetition helped in places aswell, if there is anything else that ur good at i recommend you amke another guide in the same style and format…
Left by Harry (not the guy above) on January 25th, 2009
Harry,
Thanks for the great comments (my head feels a bit bigger at the moment
) . I’ve been wanting to do a ‘guide’ on How to Negotiate for a while now. Suprisingly, it uses very similar techniques and observation points that lie detecting does.
- Erich
Left by Erich on January 29th, 2009
Uh, I am trying to have a phone call with a suspect of a crime committed in our school earlier today, and I need help on how to tell if they’re lying. I am going to have a conversation with him tomorrow in my office, but I ned to know ASAP! Thanks!
Left by Virginia on February 9th, 2009
I would like to know the official, scientific name of the Art of Detecting Lies.
Reason, is that I am seeking out courses where I can specialize in this field as a career.
Thanks,
Kelly
Left by kelly on February 11th, 2009
[...] How to Read People: Detecting Lies - Have you ever wished that you could tell when someone is lying to you? More here. [...]
Left by US debt repudiation, boiled frogs, fake smiles and taxing tokers « Caracas Gringo on February 26th, 2009
I agree with everything written here, except the fact that anyone can pick up this skill. If you follow these rules exactly you will not become a good reader, you need to naturally be able to adapt to the situation and be able to use the rules above without following a set plan. A good reader will be able to honestly say that they have used 70% of the tools written here already.
Left by Angus on March 4th, 2009
What questions could you ask your girlfriend to see if she has cheated in the past?
It would be good to know if you can trust the one you love.
Left by mark on March 30th, 2009
Where did you get your information? Could you post where you got the information for facial movements when lying? Thank you very much.
Left by Sue on March 30th, 2009
I love this article! It gives me alot of info for my science prodject for the science fair!
Thanks!
Left by Sasha Fierce on March 30th, 2009
Hi. Im a openish gay guy and there is this supposedly straight guy in some of my classes, im in college, but he seems really hard to read, he makes eye contact with me and smiles slightly then looks down but thats about all that comes through. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to tell if he is interested in me or not, please i need to know wether to make a move on him or not. Thanks in advanced,
Jimmy
P.s whenever im around him he is all nervous and his voice gets softer, all i need to know is what type of signs to look for and i will piece together the rest.
Left by Jimmy on May 14th, 2009
Thanks for info…
im doing A-lvl Psychology and iv found ur site really usefull
jp
Left by JP on June 15th, 2009
this is a great article, i enjoyed the links as well that was posted. thanks for the exercise.
Left by john on June 28th, 2009
Hey this is a very interesting article! Thanks! Just check the detailed info there How to Detect a Lie
Left by How to Detect a lie on September 26th, 2009
Good information. This article is very helpful.
Left by Jennifer on October 30th, 2009
Thanks Jennifer. Nice site btw…
Left by Erich on October 30th, 2009
Nice site! Now i know when people are lying to me and how to lie UNDETECTED!!!
Mwah ha ha ha ha ha!!!!! lol
Thanks again!
Left by Sierra on November 8th, 2009
Sierra,
Remember, with great power comes great responsibility
Left by Erich on November 8th, 2009
I do say that this article is authentic for the most part. I agree with the notion that u can collect information and use different methods to get a precise conclusion. I disagree that macro expressions cannot be determined by the naked eye. With a careful watch u can gather the right information if asked the right questions. After reading this i feel like most of the readers the came across this in a state of relief. Its as if i need to research more on this suject. I am quite intrigued
Left by Dartanian on November 18th, 2009
erich,
i catch a lot of ticks or tells in a lot of people i frequently hang out with as well as others that i dont. i watch body language, eye movement, and occasionally catch changes in tone or pitch in voices. i dont mean to sound arrogant, but it kinda comes naturally, call it lack of a better hobby. idk, i jus tend to watch people. my problem is knowing wat to do with it wen i see it and becoming more aware that i might be seeing it. idk if its relevent or not, but i also analyze things a lot in my mind. any advice? archangel_3721@hotmail.com
Left by justin on December 20th, 2009
Justin,
You sound like a natural. The hardest thing is teaching others how to make this a habit. Until observation becomes a natural thing you’ll never be able to master this art. I’m also a habitual observer and one suggestion that may help you is to keep an observation journal. Basically record the different ‘tells’ and expressions that you may notice people do in a journal - especially the ones that you don’t yet understand. you’ll be surprised how many times you figure out the meaning of specific body language ‘ticks’ months after writing them down.
- Erich
Left by Erich on December 20th, 2009
I was reading your posts and they are very interesting. But what I was concerned about, was how do I learn all the possibilities their behavior/environment could mean? Do you just learn it through practice?
-Court
Left by Court on December 28th, 2009
Court,
Alot of what you’ll learn comes through trial & error. As I mentioned in the previous comment, the best way to learn is through journaling. By keeping a journal of your observations and recording what you think they might mean and then continuing to do this, eventually you’ll begin to see patterns in the way people act and ‘project’ who they are through their behaviors and environment.
- Erich
Left by Erich on December 29th, 2009
I know that some people may think that is wrong to use these skills to determine if someone you love is lying to you, but I see it as a great tool. The only reason for someone wanting to percieve the truth is if they created some kind of suspicion. And I believe they cause people to be suspicious about them because of their own actions. Why is it so wrong to want the truth? I believe a good hearted person lives their life in truth, but the problem with the world is that the majority of people constantly lie. I’m not saying that I’m a saint, but I know that I’m a very honest person. I expect the same back and I’m determined to know the truth because relationships can’t thrive on lies.
Lekina
Left by Lekina on January 14th, 2010
Lekina,
Well spoken. Unfortunately we live in a world where dishonesty is very commonplace. Having the skills to discern truth from error can only help us.
- Erich
Left by Erich on January 15th, 2010
Wow, never seen so many big words in my life >.<! Yeah.. would this be considered stalking? Hmm.. I’m just a highschool student and if someone found a notebook about everything a person does.. Without saying that’d be prety bad. Your thoughts?
Left by Dylan Lyons on January 19th, 2010
Dylan,
Just stay out of their bath/bed rooms and you’ll be ok…
Left by Erich on January 19th, 2010
Nice stuff this is gonna hel a bunch maybe you can do more articles…
Left by Stefano on February 18th, 2010
Just gotta say that i found this all very useful and insightful. I’m currently in high school planning on becoming a minister and i’ve already put these skills into practice in my personal life and they work beautifully. I use them in everything from friends with relationship problems to a no-stakes game of cards (I’ve doubled my average earnings lol) Thanks so much, it’s a good thing you’re doing here. Hope you write more stuff.
Left by Jordan on February 25th, 2010
We are researching this for our science fair project. We thought this would be an insteresting project because what teenager doesn’t lie?
Left by Jeffery on March 8th, 2010