15. How to spot a liar?

     Today I'd like to show you what I've prepared for a short presentation about lying, which I presented with my two friends during English classes. My part was about spotting a liar. Now I'm sharing it with you.

HOW TO SPOT A LIAR? 

THE SIGNS OF LYING

1. Eye movement

The person who doesn't say the truth will probably: avoid eye contact or maintain eye contact too persistently. Sometimes, liars think that looking directly in the eyes makes them more truthful, because if they’re not afraid to that means they tell us the truth. What is more, if they start looking down and on the right, when they’re right-handed, they may look for false excuses. They also blink more often.

2. Way of speaking

Usually, liars speak fast and they add a lot of details to their speech. The sentences become longer and the tone of their voice much higher, especially while pronouncing the words endings. Finally, they need more time to start speaking and they make more mistakes.

 

3. Body language 

The body language is probably one of the the most helpful signs, because it’s hard to control. So, when someone is lying he or she will probably 1) fidget, 2) cross his hands, 3) turn his head away, 4) hide body parts with his hand, 5) adjust clothes, 6) bite or lick his lips, and the like. There is also no cohesion between the movements and the words, for example when your friend have a stomachache but he claims he's fine. We only need to observe carefully.

 

4. Smile

When someone gives you an artificial smile you can’t see happiness in the eyes. On the contrary, a real smile appears quickly and it is reflected in the entire face – lips, eyes and facial muscles. 

     These are the basics. However, we should keep in mind that most of the time it’s hard to guess if someone is lying recognizing only one of the signs. We need a couple of them to avoid making mistakes. The risk is always lower if we know the person well. Just try not to draw conclusions too quickly.