Catching someone in a lie is a sticky situation. But what if you can't tell if they're lying or not?
If you suspect someone's being untruthful, there are a few things you can do to try and sniff out their unsavory behavior — even without a lie detector test.
Pick up on their posture.
Someone who is lying will often show it with their body language. Oftentimes, they will shrink in on themselves, slouching and slumping to subconsciously protect their body while they're deceiving you.
"As a rule, the more someone allows their body to be open the more likely it is that they are being honest. That is because when your body is open you are more physically vulnerable," psychologist John Paul Garrison told INSIDER. "If you observe someone change their body language to close of their body or do behaviors to calm themselves (e.g., touching their face, rubbing their forehead) then it is possible they are lying."
Look them in the eye.
We've all heard the phrase "look me in the eyes" in reference to when someone is lying. But it turns out there is actually a lot of truth to that: Lack of eye contact is one of the first non-verbal signs that someone is being deceitful.
Eye contact is something personal and intimate. If someone is lying, they often want to disengage with you and de-personalize the situation.
Notice the rate of their movement.
Lying people typically want to trick the questioner into thinking they're clamer than they are, so their movements will reflect that.
Oftentimes they will keep their hands at their sides, sit extremely still, speak slowly, and keep their facial movements to a minimum. Because they may be trying to fake an aura of calm, these behaviors can actually be a huge tell that they're lying.
Be warned: This kind of poker-face lying is indicative of a skilled liar, so it can be hard to pick up on.
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