Spotting a Liar: The 5 Hallmarks of Dishonesty

Are you a human lie detector? If so, you're in good company.

People who have been around the block a few times have a knack for spotting liars. But if you're new to this game, you may be wondering how to tell when someone is lying to your face.

It takes some practice—but there are some things you can do that will help. Here are five signs of lying that might come in handy:

1) Look for lack of eye contact.

The truth is that liars often want to avoid eye contact because it makes them feel uncomfortable and nervous.

However, if someone seems shifty about making eye contact with you, don't assume that means they're lying! It could just mean that they're being shy or nervous around you or that they don't like looking at people's faces all that much (no judgment).

But if someone is avoiding looking at you while telling an elaborate story or giving an explanation, there's probably some truth behind the lie. It's always worth paying attention to these things if it means keeping yourself safe!

2) They are too eager with their responses.

Suppose someone seems overly eager or excited about answering your questions (even if the topic is something that doesn't interest them).

It could be because they're trying to cover up something else by making themselves look good in front of others. Be wary of people who seem too excited to answer questions or say things like "honestly!" or "I swear!"

If someone is telling you a story, watch out for details that seem too specific or random. If they describe something overly-detailed, they might just be making it up as they go along—or trying to cover up an earlier lie!

3) Listen for stammers or pauses while they talk.

When people lie, there's often an internal struggle between what they want to say and what they know they should say: their conscience versus their desire to deceive.

If you hear them hesitate or stumble over their words as they speak, it may signify that there's something off about what they're saying.

When people lie, they stumble in their speech and become somewhat incoherent because the mind is racing to figure out how to make up a story that's not true.

If you pay attention, you will be able to hear that they're struggling with their words more than usual.

4) They avoid answering questions directly.

The liar will avoid answering questions directly and instead give vague responses that are difficult to interpret. If you ask them a question and get an answer, that's like a "yes," but not really, that's a sign of deception.

Liars don't seem to have an opinion.

If you ask them what they think about something, they often answer "I don't know" or "I'm not sure." They're trying to avoid giving you an answer that could expose them as a liar later in the conversation or situation.

5) They use distracting body language.

A liar will often try to distract you with their body language while telling a lie.

You can also look out for people who touch their nose or mouth while talking—this could indicate that they're trying to come up with an excuse or story.

When you ask them about something personal, like where they were last night, the person's facial muscles will contract around their mouth and nose. That means they're lying about something about themselves.

Takeaway

Try to remember the signs of lying. It can help you out in so many situations. It's a valuable skill, primarily if you work with the public or in management positions.

It takes a little practice, but it is possible to learn and become skilled in identifying liars.