Notes on lying

By Jack Brummet
Social Mores Editor

I've read a couple of books on the psychology of lying.  I didn't retain a lot, but. . .in general, liars don't gesticulate.  They avoid eye contact and excessive arm and hand movements; they mostly keep their limbs close to their bodies.  Liars often touch their face, throat and mouth, or scratch their noses, or behind their ear.  The timing of their emotes is skewed, you know, just off a normal pace. . .their rhythm plods.

Liars are often like a stranger in a strange place--their emotions are delayed, and stretch out, or stop suddenly in mid-laugh or mid-sentence.  Their gestures and words do not quite sync, or even make sense.  A liar might frown saying "I love you," or smile at your bereavement.

A liar will often focus their efforts on the mouth instead of the whole face.  Only the mouth expresses
emotion and their eyes might just stare back at you in a cold reptilian glare.

They are on guard-- interactions and reactions, move and countermove.  They are always alert to painting themselves into a corner. 

The guilty person is usually defensive, while the innocent will often go on the attack, rightfully pissed off.

A liar and may turn his head or body away from The Questioner (or mark, or dupe); he or she may  unconsciously place objects (a book, a briefcase, a coffee cup) between themselves and you as a little psychological shield. 

If you ask a liar “Did you eat the last cookie?” they will answer, “No, I did not eat the last cookie.”  As we all know by now, “ I didn't do it” instead of “I did not do it” tends to be truthful.  A couple of famous examples are President Bill Clinton: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman," or President Richard Milhous Nixon: "I am not a crook."

Liars often avoid the direct by implying answers instead of denying or confirming something directly.
A guilty person may speak more than natural, and add in unnecessary details just to close the deal, and help to convince you; they are often not comfortable with lacuna, or pauses, in the conversation.

A liar may leave out pronouns and speak in a monotonous tone. When a truthful statement is made the pronoun is emphasized as much or more than the rest of the words in a statement, and their sentences are far more likely be muddled than emphasized.

If you believe someone is lying, do a complete u-turn in conversation.  The liar comes along with you and relaxes, happy the conversation has veered away.  The liar wants the subject changed while the innocent person is confused by the sudden change in topics and wants to go back to the previous subject.

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