How to Be A Human Lie

Detector
Vanessa Van Edwards
ScienceofPeople.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?
In which mode of communication do people lie the most?

37% of phone calls

27% face to face

21% IM chats

14% emails

*Follow up all calls and meetings with an email

confirming

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
Family
Friends
Business
Acquaintances / Salespeople / Lawyers /
Real Estate Agents

Why Care About

Deception?
Foundation of strong connection
Rapport building
Actually 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
Baseline

Red Flag #2
Red Flag #3

Second
Meeting
Circle Back
Background
Check

Cluster

Lets Review: Deception Detection

Cluster of Red Flags

Baseline

Microexpression

Hypothesize
reason for
behavior

Contradictory
body language

Test
hypothesis

Red flag emotions

Revise
Opinions

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

7 out of 15
people noticed.

*Daniel Levin and Daniel Simons, Cornell University

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)

C)

B)

D) Feet Pointing Towards You

Which of Picture Shows Someone WHo

Wants to Leave?
A)

C)

B)

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

ScienceofPeople.org

Sneak Peek:
Body Language and
Sales

ScienceofPeople.org

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 Edwards
vvanedwards@gmail.com
www.ScienceofPeople.org