Detecting Lies: Is It Possible?
By Ashley Mazerolle, Marketing –
Can you tell when someone is lying to you? If it’s your child, sibling, spouse, or a very close friend, it might be fairly easy. However, studies show that detecting lies through observation is about 65% accurate, which is only slightly better than guessing.
People lie for various reasons, some well-intended and others malicious or hurtful. It’s essential to learn how to identify deception to avoid embarrassment, financial loss, or even physical harm.
Lie Detection Aids
Despite popular belief, there is no single, foolproof method for detecting lies through body language. However, some behaviors can indicate “psychological discomfort, anxiety, or distress,” revealing that a particular issue bothers the person being questioned.
Joe Navarro, an experienced FBI special agent and founding member of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, identified six key observable indicators of deception:
1. Lip Compression: Commonly seen in people testifying.
2. Ventilating Behaviors: Actions like pulling on one’s collar.
3. Touching the Neck: A reaction when someone is anxious, nervous, or scared.
4. Distancing Behaviors: Turning the body away while maintaining eye contact.
5. Eye Touching: Done when something asked of the person bothers them.
6. Lowering or Hiding the Thumbs: Indicates insecurities or lack of commitment.
Playing on Emotions
Once you’ve discovered which issues bother the individual, the next step is to figure out why. This is done by asking deeper, emotion-based questions. Navarro suggests asking questions like, “When you found the body, how did you feel?” The liar might know how to lie about the facts but not about the emotions, making their responses sound mechanical.
While this example suits an FBI agent, the concept is the same for everyday situations. Ask questions that trigger observable stress in the other person, becoming increasingly specific to pinpoint the reason.
Asking the Right Questions
Lie detection needs vary by industry. Hiring managers don’t need to interrogate applicants like the FBI, but asking the right questions during an interview can help reveal potential issues.
Lie detection is crucial for eliminating corruption and dishonesty in the workplace. Fortunately, state-of-the-art technologies like EyeDetect™ offer unprecedented accuracy in detecting deception, making the process more objective, accurate, and measurable.
Photo by: Bruno Guerrero