How to Detect a Liar Using Body Language

Liars reveal themselves in many ways, whether in personal relationships or in the workplace. Unconscious communication patterns and body gestures can go against a habitual liar once they are detected. Getting familiar with common body language signs of deceptive people can help you find that sometimes there's more than meets the eye.

Instructions

1. Generally people who are lying will not look you in the eye, although very practiced liars may be able to tell lies and do it with eye contact.

2. People who are lying may appear to be very stiff and still, with little to no animation.

3. When someone tells a lie, it may raise his blood pressure and cause him to become red in the face, neck or chest.

4. The liar will often withdraw himself physically, crossing his arms or legs to hold himself in, or hiding his hands under the desk or in his pockets.

5. Liars will usually touch their face or neck when fibbing.

6. Liars might fake an emotion like happiness or sadness. The expression may be limited to their mouth, but will not reach their eyes.

7. Look for twitches. When someone is lying they may have a physiological reaction such as an eye, lip or cheek twitch. Other physiological reactions include sweating or fidgeting.

References

• PattiWood.net; How to Spot a Liar; Patti A. Wood, MA, CSP