| Liar – One who tells lies For many years I have | | | | and cheeks move, their eyes and forehead push |
| both studied and taught different aspects of business | | | | down, nose may wrinkle and eyes may get squished. |
| and management. One of the areas that I have | | | | A forced or ‘fake’ smile sees only those |
| always been interested in is ‘body language’. | | | | muscles around the mouth move. A quick way to |
| Body language usually refers to non-verbal | | | | judge this is to look at person’s eyes. Often |
| communication signaled by the position and posture | | | | duration and timing of the emotional gestures and the |
| of a person’s body. This is thought to be a more | | | | emotion are out of sync. The emotion displayed may |
| automatic responses, and much less considered than | | | | stay longer than natural and also may stop very |
| a person’s actual words. The understanding of | | | | suddenly. This is because people are thinking it |
| body language is an excellent method of gaining an | | | | through, not letting it happen. The timing between |
| advantage. One aspect of the use of body language | | | | the emotional expression or gesture and the words |
| is the way a person’s body is positioned when | | | | spoken do not link up. Think of when someone has |
| the speaker is lying. The ability to distinguish the truth | | | | given you a present you have not really liked, you |
| from a lie can make the difference between a good | | | | say ‘it’s great’ and then remember to |
| decision and a poor one. The following are some | | | | smile. The verbal content and context A contracted |
| simple methods widely used to judge how truthful a | | | | statement is more likely to be true. A correct, more |
| person is being about what they are telling you. It | | | | drawn out statement once again shows though |
| should, of course, be remembered that these are | | | | rather than reaction. I.e. ‘I didn’t do it’ |
| indications only. The use of body language is not an | | | | as compared with ‘No I did not do that |
| exact science but it certainly provides food for | | | | thing’ Liars will often try to avoid actually lying. |
| thought. Reactions and method of interaction. | | | | This is done by not making direct statements. The |
| Someone who is lying will be uncomfortable when | | | | liar may imply an answer rather than denying it |
| they have to face the person asking them questions | | | | completely. I.e. Do you really think I would do |
| or accusing them of a lie. Often this will translate into | | | | something like that? A liar will often try to reuse the |
| a person turning their body or head in a different | | | | words or phrase when denying something. Q. Did you |
| direction. It is also the case that a person who is lying | | | | take that money? A. No I did not take that money. |
| will get very defensive. A person who is telling the | | | | It has also been noted that liars may tend not to use |
| truth will be more likely to attack or go on the | | | | pronouns. Their speech may be in a more |
| offensive. Liars may try to put physical barriers | | | | monotonous tone than normal. A truthful statement |
| between them and the accuser. This may translate | | | | tends to see emphasis placed on pronouns. People |
| into the unconscious placing of an object, such as a | | | | that are telling lies also often become unusually |
| piece of furniture, between themselves and the | | | | verbose. The liar will often speak much more than |
| person who they are lying to, or they may cross | | | | normal. Thinking they need to convince you their |
| their arms. Body language The physical expressions | | | | answer is truthful. A liar may mumble, or garble their |
| of a liar may appear to be stiff or limited. It is typical | | | | words. The liar may speak very softly; the grammar |
| to see less hand and arm movement. The liar will try | | | | and syntax may seem unnatural. The sentences may |
| to withdraw into their own space. A liar will often try | | | | be not emphasized or muddled. Other ways to |
| to avoid eye contact. There of course may be other | | | | detect a liar One good method for catching out a liar |
| reasons for this response too and people with | | | | is to change the subject of a conversation quickly. |
| experience in a bi-cultural or multicultural setting may | | | | The liar will be happy, follow along quickly and may |
| come across this trait without it being an indication or | | | | appear to visibly relax. The liar wants the subject |
| otherwise of honesty. Another point that is often | | | | changed; a truthful person will in these circumstances |
| referred to in the literature on this topic is the | | | | often appear confused and try to change the |
| tendency of someone who is lying is put their hands | | | | subject back to the previous subject. A liar may try |
| up near their face. Perhaps they will touch their | | | | to use sarcasm or humor to avoid the subject. |
| throat or mouth, scratch their ear etc. Contradictory | | | | Remember The above are ‘indicators of lies’ |
| emotional gestures. The expressions or gestures do | | | | not ‘proof of lies’. When judging if a person |
| not match the verbal statement. For example a | | | | is lying these behaviors can be compared to their |
| frown when they are saying something is very nice. | | | | normal behaviour. Behaviors out of context are a |
| The expressions of a liar tend to be more often | | | | good indicator of untruth. The concept involved in |
| limited just to mouth movements when emotion is | | | | these indicators are that a liar must think through |
| being faked, instead of using the whole face. A | | | | actions, they do not come naturally, while an honest |
| common example of this is with a smile. A | | | | person just reacts. |
| ‘real’ smile involves the whole face the jaw | | | | |