How to tell if How to tell if someone is Lyingsomeone is Lying

The PlanThe Plan Non-verbal or visual clues to lyingNon-verbal or visual clues to lying Verbal clues to lyingVerbal clues to lying Answer questionsAnswer questions Our job is to help you understand Our job is to help you understand

the process and issues. Be careful in the process and issues. Be careful in applying. applying.

Lying…Common BeliefsLying…Common Beliefs Most people are pretty good at detecting Most people are pretty good at detecting

lieslies Liars tend to be more nervousLiars tend to be more nervous Liars tend to hesitate more in speechLiars tend to hesitate more in speech Liars will blushLiars will blush Liars more often fail to make eye contactLiars more often fail to make eye contact Liars tend to look up and to the left when Liars tend to look up and to the left when

they are concocting a liethey are concocting a lie Relying on your gut or instinct is the best Relying on your gut or instinct is the best

wayway

PARADOX OF DECEPTION

Most people think they are good lie detectors

but poor liars

Most people are poor lie detectors

but highly skilled liars

Perception Reality

“Looking at his face I got the impression that here was a man who could be relied upon when he had given his word.”

British P.M. Neville Chamberlain following a 1938 meeting in Munich with Adolph Hitler, who swore he would not invade Czechoslovakia.

““I looked the man in the eye. I found I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. I was able to get a trustworthy. I was able to get a sense of sense of his soul.”soul.”

George Bush commenting on a George Bush commenting on a meeting with Vladimir Putin in June meeting with Vladimir Putin in June 2001. 2001.

The Scientific FactThe Scientific Fact Lies are present in:

37% of phone conversations 27% of face-to-face conversations 14% of emails ( (Hancock, 2005).).

Without training, lies are not easily detectable.

Behavior can be misleading in credibility assessment

Attempts to detect liesAttempts to detect lies Lie detectorLie detector

based on theory liars are nervousbased on theory liars are nervous pulse rate, blood pressure, respiration, and palm pulse rate, blood pressure, respiration, and palm

sweat.sweat. Detects people who are nervous when they lieDetects people who are nervous when they lie Detects people who are nervous that you aren't Detects people who are nervous that you aren't

going to believe them going to believe them Works about 70 percent of the timeWorks about 70 percent of the time

MRI brain scanMRI brain scan Lie is a cognitive activity, not a memory activityLie is a cognitive activity, not a memory activity

Visual CluesVisual Clues Numerous studies have been done with Numerous studies have been done with

subject telling known lies and telling the subject telling known lies and telling the truth. Their behavior was recorded and truth. Their behavior was recorded and correlated. The results show some correlated. The results show some behaviors is correlated with lying: behaviors is correlated with lying:

Pupil dilation – Much more pronounced Pupil dilation – Much more pronounced in liarsin liars

Vocal tension – More pronounced in liarsVocal tension – More pronounced in liars Vocal pitch - More pronounced in liarsVocal pitch - More pronounced in liars

Visual cluesVisual clues Fidgeting – No differenceFidgeting – No difference Blinking – No differenceBlinking – No difference Cooperative – More pronounced in Cooperative – More pronounced in

non-liarsnon-liars Smiling – No differenceSmiling – No difference Lip pulls – No differenceLip pulls – No difference Pleasantness – Barely more Pleasantness – Barely more

pronounced in NLpronounced in NL

Visual cluesVisual clues Are liars less forthcoming: Are liars less forthcoming:

Longer responses – More pronounced in Longer responses – More pronounced in non-liarsnon-liars

Rich details in story – More pronounced Rich details in story – More pronounced in non-liarsin non-liars

Rate of speech – No differenceRate of speech – No difference Time before starting – No differenceTime before starting – No difference

Visual cluesVisual clues Are stories of liars more compelling? Are stories of liars more compelling?

Stories have discrepancies/ambivalent – Stories have discrepancies/ambivalent – Slightly more pronounced in liarsSlightly more pronounced in liars

Stories less logical - Slightly more pronounced Stories less logical - Slightly more pronounced in liarsin liars

Stories impersonal/distant – Definitely more Stories impersonal/distant – Definitely more pronounced in liarspronounced in liars

Uncertainty – Slightly more pronounced in liarsUncertainty – Slightly more pronounced in liars Word repetition - Slightly more pronounced in Word repetition - Slightly more pronounced in

liarsliars

Visual CluesVisual Clues Foot/leg movements – No differenceFoot/leg movements – No difference Posture shifts – No differencePosture shifts – No difference Head/Hand movements – No Head/Hand movements – No

differencedifference

Visual cluesVisual clues Admitted lack of memory – More Admitted lack of memory – More

pronounced in non-liarspronounced in non-liars Spontaneous corrections – More Spontaneous corrections – More

pronounced in non-liarspronounced in non-liars Unusual details – No differenceUnusual details – No difference

Micro expressionsMicro expressions

Micro ExpressionsMicro Expressions People demonstrate their emotions People demonstrate their emotions

unconsciously in their actionsunconsciously in their actions Sometimes happens for less than a Sometimes happens for less than a

secondsecond Can read the expression if you are Can read the expression if you are

trained to read them. trained to read them. Every expression is built through a Every expression is built through a

combination of muscles movementscombination of muscles movements

Micro ExpressionsMicro Expressions

Surprise: Surprise: 1.1. Raised brows – high and Raised brows – high and

archingarching2.2. Skin below brow is Skin below brow is

stretchedstretched3.3. Eyelids open – white shows Eyelids open – white shows

above and below irisabove and below iris4.4. Jaw drops – lips and teeth Jaw drops – lips and teeth

parted but with no tensionparted but with no tension

Micro expressionsMicro expressions FearFear

Micro ExpressionsMicro Expressions

Disgust

Micro ExpressionsMicro Expressions

Examples in useExamples in use

Verbal cluesVerbal clues What you see below is copied from a report What you see below is copied from a report

form but it is exactly what was written by a form but it is exactly what was written by a man who was reporting his car stolen. man who was reporting his car stolen. However, the nature of his handwriting is not However, the nature of his handwriting is not an issue so it is reproduced in typescript. The an issue so it is reproduced in typescript. The report form had on it his name and address, his report form had on it his name and address, his car number and other similar facts that had car number and other similar facts that had been written in the spaces provided for them. been written in the spaces provided for them. In what you read below, is there anything that In what you read below, is there anything that would help you to decide whether it is truthful would help you to decide whether it is truthful or deceptive? If so, what?or deceptive? If so, what?

Fri 14 octFri 14 oct PARKED IN HUDSON’S PARKING LOT PARKED IN HUDSON’S PARKING LOT

Section CSection C

Went Shopping for 1/2 HR.Went Shopping for 1/2 HR. Came out It was goneCame out It was gone

Description of CarDescription of Car1975 Bricklin, White, Gull wing 1975 Bricklin, White, Gull wing DoorsDoors

Goodyear Eagle ST. tiresGoodyear Eagle ST. tires

11. “On 22nd February 2003, a bundle of 10’s totalling $5,000 was found in locker . “On 22nd February 2003, a bundle of 10’s totalling $5,000 was found in locker 2. 3, where my cash drawer is kept. The date stamped on the straps of the 2. 3, where my cash drawer is kept. The date stamped on the straps of the 3. bundle is that of 31st January 2003, on this day, as on most Tuesday I am 3. bundle is that of 31st January 2003, on this day, as on most Tuesday I am 4. responsible for balancing the vault. At approximately 2.00 pm, I balanced 4. responsible for balancing the vault. At approximately 2.00 pm, I balanced 5. the vault. The currency is then placed in vault locker 5. If 5 is locked then 5. the vault. The currency is then placed in vault locker 5. If 5 is locked then 6. the currency is placed in any open locker and locked, if I am doing the vault 6. the currency is placed in any open locker and locked, if I am doing the vault 7. then I will put it in locker 3. I did not have a chance to find someone to tell 7. then I will put it in locker 3. I did not have a chance to find someone to tell 8. them before they went to the vault. If I placed the bundle in locker 3 then it 8. them before they went to the vault. If I placed the bundle in locker 3 then it 9. was there from 31st January until it was discovered on 22nd February. I had 9. was there from 31st January until it was discovered on 22nd February. I had 10. no knowledge of the missing money. I’ve been with this bank for more 10. no knowledge of the missing money. I’ve been with this bank for more 11. than two years and if in that time you are unaware of my trustworthiness 11. than two years and if in that time you are unaware of my trustworthiness 12. then I suggest we need to come to some sort of agreement so this does not12. then I suggest we need to come to some sort of agreement so this does not13. happen again.”13. happen again.”