Lying

The following techniques to telling if someone is lying are often used by police, and security experts. This knowledge is also useful for managers, employers, and for anyone to use in everyday situations where telling the truth from a lie can help. The first thing to make clear is that body language and facial expressions are good indicators of when a person is lying but the indicators are not foolproof. These indicators only give you a 'heads up' that something is not quite right about what the person is saying.

Here is what to watch for when a person is lying to you when face-to-face: (Also make sure you don't do these things!)

Voice is higher pitched.
Untrue answers to questions are slightly delayed.
Body and face become stiffer.
Hand-to-face touching increased, especially nose rubbing and mouth covering.
Face and hands becomes a bit paler as blood is withheld from extremities. (A sign of high stress.) Nostrils may open wider ('flare').
Breathing deeper and maybe audible.
Lips become thinner and tighter.
Shoulders pulled up and elbows pulled in to sides more. Body takes up less space.
Forehead tightens up a little in area between eye brows.
Eye contact breaks away from you and eyes may squint or close.
Heart rate increases.
Hand palms turned down or closed, and not revealed to you.

Keep in mind that periodically everyone tells 'little fibs'. That is what we call lying when it serves us.