How to Be A Human Lie Detector

Vanessa Van EdwardsScienceofPeople.org

Science Based Approach 275 published research papers from academic

institutions and scientific periodicals Practical Use Cases:

Law enforcement FBI / CIA / Anti-Terrorism Business negotiations, mediations, market

research

Which Mode of Communication?

37% of phone calls 27% face to face 21% IM chats 14% emails

*Follow up all calls and meetings with an email confirming

In which mode of communication do people lie the most?

How Often Do We Lie?

91% of people lie regularly at home and at work.

We lie 1 to 2 times per day.

In the average 10 minute conversation we are lied to 2 to 3 times on average.

We can only detect these lies with about 54% accuracy.

How can we get better at detecting deception?

Learning how to read deception detection patterns and non-verbal cues can

significantly increase your lie-spotting ability.

Why Care About Deception? Foundation of strong relationships

FamilyFriendsBusinessAcquaintances / Salespeople / Lawyers / Real Estate Agents

Why Care About Deception? Foundation of strong connection

Rapport buildingActually listening with your whole self

Why Care About Deception? Foundation of confidence

Is he lying to me?Why do I have a bad feeling about this person?

What is she hiding?

Why Everyone Needs to Know About Lying

Everyone should know more than 82% of lies go undetected.

Businesses should know corporate fraud cost us $997 billion in the United States in 2011, which is 7% of total annual revenue.

Know a third of all resumes contain false information.

Women should know men typically lie more often than females

Why Everyone Needs to Know About Lying

Parents should know college students lie to their moms one in every five interactions.

Managers should know one in five employees say they are aware of fraud in their workplace.

When in an MRI women have 14 to 16 active brain areas while evaluating others body language, whereas men only have 4 to 6 active.

Interesting Fact: Researchers found that combining deception

detecting techniques with background checks can reveal 32% more cases of past job dismissals, 60% more criminal convictions and 82% more cases of alcohol abuse during work hours.

Lying is Learned: So We Can Unlearn It!

Experiment: Will 3 year-olds look at the toy and lie about it?

Lying is Learned: So We Can Unlearn It!

90% of the children looked 38% admitted it ...but

Lying is Learned: So We Can Unlearn It!

Same experiment with five year-olds... NONE of them admitted they peeked.

Lie Detection Options Equipment Needed: Electroencephalography (EEG) Eye Tracking (University of Utah) Facial Electromyography Voice Analysis fMRI Polygraph

*Guilt and nerves look the same Nonverbal

Define: Lie vs. Truth

The truth correctly represents fact or reality. A lie is when someone makes a false statement with

the intent to deceive. Before we can pinpoint lies, we must be able to

recognize truth.

Types of Lies Errora lie by mistake. The person believes they are being

truthful, but what they are saying is not true. Omission leaving out relevant information. Restructuringdistorting the context. Denialrefusing to acknowledge a truth. Minimizationreducing the effects of a something. Exaggerationrepresenting as more _____. Fabricationdeliberately inventing something false.

When Lies Become Fraud A lie is considered common-law fraud if:

-Misrepresents a material fact-The liar knows the material fact is untrue-The liar intends to induce the victim to make a decision based on the misrepresentation-There is "justifiable reliance" on the victim's part. (He has good reason to believe the victim will make a decision based on the misrepresentation)-There is damage or injury to the victim

The Six Steps of Lie Detection

Step One: Baselining

A baseline is how someone acts when they are under normal, non-threatening conditions. It is how someone looks when they are telling the

truth.

Baselining Questions:

Hows the weather? What was your weekend like? Whats for lunch? Can you believe that game/traffic/event this

weekend?

2) Baseline Their NonVerbal

In 30 minutes, two people can send over 800

nonverbal signals.

Where Else to Look:-How do they hold their body?

-What is their posture like?

-Do they fidget?

-What are their hand gestures?

-Are their legs crossed? How are they sitting?

-Do they blink a lot or have a nervous tick?

-What are their facial expressions?

3) Listen to Their Baseline-Is their voice high or low?

-Do they laugh easily and what does it sound like?

-Do they clear their throat or cough?

-Do they naturally use a lot of uhs or ums?

Step Four: Baseline An Emotional State

What is their baseline when they are passionate or excited? Favorite baseball team Talking about kids

What is their baseline when they are nervous or tense? Annual review High anxiety current news event

Step Five: Dig Deeper and Look For Red Flags

Open-Ended Questions Baseline Change: Did their body change? Baseline Change: Did their voice change? Do you see any of the most common lying red

flags...?

Step Six: Find Clusters

A cluster is a series of verbal messages that are inconsistent with physical behavior.

*A cluster is not necessarily a sign of lying, instead they are indicators of concealed thoughts or feelings and a cue to dig deeper.

Review: 1) Baseline 2) What is their nonverbal baseline? 3) What is their vocal baseline? 4) What is their baseline when they are nervous? 5) Do you see any red flags? 6) Do you see a cluster of red flags?

Lets Review: Deception Detection

Red Flag #1

Red Flag #2

Red Flag #3

Cluster

Second Meeting

Circle Back

Background Check

Baseline

Lets Review: Deception Detection

Microexpression

Contradictory body language

Red flag emotions

Hypothesize reason for behavior

Test hypothesis

Revise Opinions

Baseline

Cluster of Red Flags

Microexpressions

Anger

Brows Lowered and drawn together, vertical lines on the forehead

Lips tense (or yelling position) Chin juts forward Eyes Narrow (Suspicion) Forehead Jab

Fear

Brows raised and drawn together, usually flat Eyes has upper white showing Mouth open and lips stretched or drawn back

Happiness

Crows feet at the eyes

Cheeks raised

Lips drawn up and back (showing teeth or not)

Contempt

One side of the mouth raises

Eyes can be narrowed at target

Turns body away

Surprise

Brows raised and curved, horizontal forehead wrinkles

White of the eye above and below, eyelids open

Jaw drops and teeth can be parted (as if to yell)

Sadness

Inner corners of eyebrows drawn up (hard to fake)

Eyes droopy

Mouth pulled down, chin back

Disgust

Nose crinkled Lips pulled up

Fight Lensing

*Daniel Levin and Daniel Simons, Cornell University

7 out of 15 people noticed.

A Lying Face Cant control microexpressions and hard to control long

facial expressions, so lies and true emotions often get leaked

Easier to control the lower half of the face so watch out for over smiles, or odd frowns

Incongruous face Timing is off between faces and words Small expression of disbelief / sadness at own words

The Eyes and Lies

Eye Blocking Gazing Eye Direction

Recap:

Why reading facial expressions is important Microexpressions Fighting lensing Cues of a lying face Eye behavior

Looking for Slips and Leaks

Looking for Authenticity

Legs and Feet

Which Picture Shows Someone WHo Wants to Leave?

A) B)

C) D) Feet Pointing Towards You

Which of Picture Shows Someone WHo Wants to Leave?

A) B)

C) D) Feet Pointing Towards You

Lying Feet: Tip #1

Our feet point where we want to go (mentally and physically)

Lying Feet Tip #2

Always look at someones feet during baselining.

Study: Paul Ekman found that people typically move their feet more when they are lying (Dont confuse this with nerves, so be sure to

baseline)

Lying Feet Tip #2

Baselining Feet:-Shapes-Jiggling

-Direction-Tension

Lying Leg Behavior

Widen legs to claim territory, expose genitals and as a show of confidence or dominance.

People cross legs or press legs together to protect their genitals, and because they do not feel confident with themselves.

Interesting Fact:

Female law enforcement officers are often taught to splay their legs and widen their stance to look more in control.

Lying Leg Behavior

Does their leg position match their verbal content.

Baseline dierences: Crossing Movement

A Lying Torso

Lying Torso Behavior

Leaning as the ultimate measuring stick Leaning forward when we are engaged Leaning back from ideas we dont like Lean away from lies

Torso Behaviors: Nerves or Lying

Always Baseline: Suprasternal Notch Turtling Air Pull / Ventilating Object Block Heavy Breathing

Arms and Hands

Lying Arm Behavior

Protectors A physical expression of an emotional shield. When we are comfortable our hands are loose or

away from our torso, when we are nervous or lying the opposite is true.

Winning Body Language

Interesting Fact:

Hitler used to raise his right arm in salute, but almost always had his left arm in front of his crotch.

Subconsciously this could have happened because he was missing his left testicle and he wanted to protect the area.

Arm Behaviors: Nerves or Lying

Always Baseline: Crossed Arms Neck touching Finger biting Clenched fists / Stiff Arms

Lying Hands

Exposing our hands, exposing truth. Interesting Fact: Jurors find defendants who put

their hands under the table more sneaky or mistrustful.

Other Notable Hand Gestures

Shame

Other Notable Hand Gestures

Rubbing Palms

Example Review Baseline: Nervous

Baseline: Red Flags:

Example Review Baseline: Foot jiggler Smiler Plays with

earring

Nervous Baseline:

Red Flags:

Example Review Baseline: Foot jiggler Smiler Plays with

earring

Nervous Baseline:

Foot jiggler No smiling, fear Frozen arms Slight turtling

Red Flags:

Example Review Baseline: Foot jiggler Smiler Plays with

earring

Nervous Baseline:

Foot jiggler No smiling, fear Frozen arms Slight turtling

Red Flags: Frozen feet Short breathing Crossed arms

Vocal Cues to Deception

Vocal Cues to Deception Emphasis statements:

To be honest Swear to God Mismatching nonverbal and verbal cues

Im so happy with a sad microexpression

Im not angry with tense body language and anger flash

Im open minded to your ideas with crossed arms

Vocal Cues to Deception Voice tone changes Less use of personal pronouns Inability to change the order of their story in re-telling Distancing language Volume loss

Vocal Cues to Deception Generalizations instead of answers Changing the topic quickly Quick Liars: Add not, no, but before the truth

I did (not) have sexual relations with that woman

Delayed responses Question Inflection Lenient punishment suggestions

Common Clues to Deception

Review: 1) Baseline 2) What is their nonverbal baseline? 3) What is their vocal baseline? 4) What is their baseline when they are nervous? 5) Do you see any red flags? 6) Do you see a cluster of red flags?

Which of the Following Body Language Cues Is A Lying Red Flag?

A. Shifty Eyes B. Crossed Arms C. One Sided Shoulder Shrug D. Looking Up to the Right

Which of the Following Body Language Cues Is A Lying Red Flag?

A. Shifty Eyes - MYTH! B. Crossed Arms - Defensive C. One Sided Shoulder Shrug -Unequal Leak D. Looking Up to the Right -MYTH!

Common Lying Red Flags Nod yes when we mean no, or nod no when we mean

yes

One sided shoulder shrug Leaning away from the lie Touching our nose Touch our mouth Pursing the lips

Interesting Fact:

Alan Hirsch and Charles Wolf watched Bill Clintons testimony during the Monica Lewinsky trial and tracked that when Clinton touched his nose far more times when he lied than when he was telling the truth.

This example shows why baselining is very important.

Sneak Peek: Body Language and

Lie Detection for Entrepreneurs

ScienceofPeople.org

Common Lying Red Flags Frozen Bodies Odd or uneven smiles Delayed behavior Pursed Lips Mismatched words and

expressions

Putting It All Together

Sneak Peek: Body Language and

Romance

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Sneak Peek: Body Language and

Sales

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Dedicated Reader Coupon 40%

Take-Aways Body Language Is A Two-Way Street Pay Attention! Never Assume, Dont Let Yourself Lens Always Look for Clusters A Red Flag Just Tells You to Dig Deeper Practice Your Micro-Expressions

More Free Info and Examples:

Vanessa Van Edwardsvvanedwards@gmail.comwww.ScienceofPeople.org