What's The Baseline?(01 of10)
Open Image ModalAscertain their baseline behavior, how they behave normally. Interrogation officers ask mundane questions first, such as, 'How are you, how was your day?' This is to see what’s normal and what construes a deviation later on. Notice how they normally stand, facial gestures, body language, then when they deviate you will spot the red flag.
Gestures(02 of10)
Open Image ModalWe use gestures because we’re recalling real emotions. Liars cannot recall real emotions so they tend to freeze instead, making them look stiff and awkward. Lack of movement in the torso area is a big clue for this.
Shoulders(03 of10)
Open Image ModalLiars will often display a lopsided shoulder shrug, it’s as if they themselves don’t believe what they’re saying.
The Fake Smile(04 of10)
Open Image ModalA liar's smile can look more like a smirk, masking anger or contempt, or it can be assymetric. And it won’t reach the eyes.
The Nose Has It(05 of10)
Open Image ModalTics – nose rubbing, touching the face, touching an ear – will all increase in frequency. Lying can be a very stressful activity on the brain, the body will seek to self-pacify itself, which naturally occur when we’re feeling stressed and anxious. It goes back to when we were younger, our parents would soothe us, and this is a sophisticated way of soothing ourselves under pressure. Signs can turn into grooming gestures, hair, straightening a tie, picking lint off a jacket. President Clinton touched his nose 88 times in a testimonial lasting a few hours about Monica Lewinsky.
Posture(06 of10)
Open Image ModalA liar will feel uncomfortable facing the accuser, they will sit at an angle, anything to distance themselves from the accuser. The posture will be stiff and awkward.
Look Me In The Eye(07 of10)
Open Image ModalLiars will often over-compensate with too much eye contact, thinking it makes them more credible and sincere. Beware if someone’s staring unnaturally, accompanied by a facial expression less animated. They may look downward – our normal blink rate is once every 5 seconds, with a liar it moves to every two or three seconds.
Get Me Out Of Here!(08 of10)
Open Image ModalKicking feet – the foot starts kicking upwards, a subtle indicator of stress, the rate and intensity of the jitter as the questioning increases. They will point towards where the body wants to go, ie the nearest exit.
Between You, Me And This Desk... (09 of10)
Open Image ModalThe telling of the lie makes people feel defensive, so they will form barriers – coffee, newspaper, chairs, anything to provide distance and an imaginary shield for comfort and safety. Arms and legs will also be used. Hands will be out of view, parked in pockets or being sat on.
I'll Ask You Again... (10 of10)
Open Image ModalCan you repeat the question, please? Or they will repeat the question back to you, to give them enough time to think of a response. Politicians do this a lot.