Body Language of a Liar

When interpreting the body language of someone who may be lying, it is better to rely on signs that are not under conscious control, such as gestures and reactions that happen automatically. The least reliable signs are the ones the person can control most easily, such as their words or deliberately exposing their palms. Exposed palms usually suggest openness, but when someone is trying to appear honest, this gesture can be faked.

A small child may instinctively cover their mouth when lying. If they hear something they do not want to hear, they may cover their ears as if trying to block out the sound. If they see something they do not want to see, they may cover their eyes. As the child gets older, face-touching gestures become quicker and subtler, but they do not disappear altogether.

Face-touching gestures may still appear when a person is lying, covering for someone, exaggerating, doubting, or feeling uncertain. Increased swallowing is another automatic response that is often associated with lying, although it is usually more noticeable in men than in women.

In addition, no single gesture should be interpreted on its own. You need to consider the other signs displayed at the same time, as well as the circumstances in which the gesture occurs. The same gesture can mean different things in different situations. For example, scratching the head can suggest forgetfulness or lying, but it could also simply mean dandruff.

Similarly, face-touching is not always associated with the body language of a liar. It could simply mean that the person is holding back some information. Observing their later movements and other body language signs can either support or weaken your suspicions.

Although we use our faces to cover up lies and our genuine emotions more than any other body part, the face still reveals our true feelings and attitudes, often without us realizing it. If you are trying to conceal a lie, or if a certain unpleasant thought flashes through your mind, the evidence may appear on your face, even if only for a split second.

A good example would be a job interview. Suppose you are asked about your relationship with your previous boss, whom you truly hated. You insist that the relationship was great and that you only left the job because you wanted better options for your future. Even then, your face may briefly display a sneer, if only for a split second.

This kind of body language happens unconsciously and usually goes unnoticed unless the person talking to you is highly perceptive. If they are, they may notice the contradiction between your verbal and nonverbal signals. And since nonverbal signals often make a stronger impression than words, they may find it difficult to believe you.

Lying is not always easy because the subconscious mind can send signals that contradict what you are saying. These signals make your words harder to believe and may include dilation or contraction of the pupils, sweating, increased swallowing, twitching of the facial muscles, blushing, and increased eye-blinking. These signs may last only a split second, but professional interviewers, salespeople, and highly perceptive individuals may notice these contradictions.

This is most obvious in people who do not lie often because they have not refined their body language the way more practiced liars have. Professional liars, such as actors, may pay attention to how it feels to tell a lie and then work on reducing their gestures altogether. Their movements become so controlled that it becomes extremely difficult to detect lies in them.

Body Language in Communication