Wouldn't if be great if you could always tell when someone was lying? Think about it for a second. Parenting, marriage, work and friendship would all become so much easier (or harder depending on if you are a liar). Unfortunately there isn't a full proof method of telling if someone is lying. Even the machines the professionals use are far from foolproof.

However, there are many clues that tell you that someone might be lying. With the correct training, some people have actually been able to become what is known as human lie detectors.

Below are 3 clues that someone might not be telling the truth. These methods would be applied when speaking to someone face to face.

1. Everyone knows that the eyes are the dead giveaway when someone is lying...right? People who are lying do not like to make eye contact. Some cultures do not look at other people in the eye as a rule of thumb so this in and of itself does not indicate lying but can be something to take note of. Most people who think the other person is suspicious of them even if they are telling the truth will become very aware of their eyes and typically give signals that they are lying.
   
   
2. Hand placement - When someone is lying, they will often put their hands up to their face or throat. The most common place is around the mouth. Scratching the nose or behind the ear are also indicators.
   
   
3. In addition, they may use expressions that don't match what they are saying, giving away their anxiety or guilt. Often, they use just their mouths to express humor or sadness but the rest of their face doesn't change. And they can switch off their phony expressions in the blink of an eye, whereas genuine expressions tend to fade slowly.

These 3 signs by themselves do not indicate that someone is lying but are a start. For a more thorough analysis on whether someone is lying, these face to face techniques need to be combined with the following techniques: interpersonal interactions, emotional consistency, communication, verbal cues and general indications.

Greg Schmidt
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