11 body language tips to spot a liar

You may be a very attentive and perceptive person, but your chances of catching a liar in the act are relatively low.

That’s what behavior specialist Paulo Sergio de Camargo says, author of the book “Don’t lie to me: psychology of lies and body language” (Summus Editorial, 2012).

According to him, a layman in body language tends to get it right only 50% of the time when he tries to identify a liar by his posture. But even the most seasoned experts don’t always get it right: their chances of success are usually around 65% or a little higher.

The main difficulty lies in the fact that the signs of lying are often confused with traces of shyness, anxiety and nervousness. This is what Camargo calls “Othello’s mistake”, in reference to the classic Shakespearean character. Instead of fear, the protagonist of the tragedy sees betrayal in the eyes of his wife, Desdemona, and commits a terrible injustice.

In real life, miscalculations are also frequent – ​​even more so if you are emotionally involved in the situation.

The advantage of the specialist who analyzes videos or interviews defendants, for example, is that he does not have a direct relationship with the liar.

In everyday work, however, the feelings and expectations you have in relation to your interlocutor can “cloud” your judgment about his honesty – for better or for worse.

Still, there are certain classic signs that often betray liars. They were compiled after decades of scientific research on the subject, and are described in the book “Do not lie to me: Psychology of lies and body language”, by Camargo.

Know some of these signs – but remember to apply them sparingly:

1) Cover your mouth

A typical gesture of those who are not speaking the truth is touching their own mouth. Stroking the chin, wiping the lips with the fingers, placing a pencil or other object in front of the mouth are quite common signs.

According to Camargo, the concern with the mouth reflects the desire to prevent others from hearing the lie that will be uttered, or even the unconscious desire to repress one’s own words, because they are false.

2) Avoid eye contact

Not looking directly into the other’s eyes does not necessarily mean insincerity: it could simply be insecurity or shyness. Still, it is common for the liar to lower his eyes to prevent the falsity of his statements from being perceived.

However, this detail can be treacherous. “Many liars, knowing this, do exactly the opposite when they lie: they look the victim directly in the eye in an attempt to make their statements more credible,” writes Camargo.

3) Pinch the lips

A liar in action often closes in on himself, preventing words from coming out of his mouth. A very clear sign of this resistance to communication is folding the lips inward, tightly squeezing them.

This is a common reaction to questions with the potential to expose the truth. According to Camargo, the “disappearance” of the lips may indicate that the person was affected by the question and does not want to answer it.

4) Look up and to the right

When directing the eyes to the upper right corner, the individual usually wants to create an image, explains Camargo. This is one of the most consistent signs of lying – the person makes a creative effort, that is, prepares something fictitious to say.

Many individuals turn their heads in the same direction. In many cases, looking away also serves to avoid looking directly at the interlocutor.

5) Show micro wrinkles on the forehead

The nervousness brought on by the situation can also cause the appearance of small horizontal wrinkles on the liar’s forehead. The problem is that they disappear very quickly and are not always easy to observe, says Camargo.

But beware: forehead lines often reflect a kind of tension that has nothing to do with lying. In general, the wrinkles that denote mere nervousness are quite pronounced and remain on the other’s face longer.

6) Restrict hand and arm movements

It is common for people who lack the truth to reduce their gestures a lot. “The hands are glued to the legs, in the pockets, placed behind the back”, writes the specialist. “Movements are scarce and controlled.”

The reason for this paralysis is unconscious: without knowing it, the person believes that the more immobile he is, the more easily he will go unnoticed by the attentive gaze of his interlocutor. She also tries to reduce her body language so that her gestures don’t end up contradicting her speech.

7) Rigid and repetitive movements

In an attempt to close himself in his own body, the insincere individual will tend to move in a hard, repetitive and mechanical way.

The more intense these gestures, the more it becomes clear that the liar is uncomfortable and is fighting an internal struggle to maintain control of the situation.

8) Shrink the head

According to Camargo, the liar tends to withdraw his own body: neck hunched, chin down, legs together and arms crossed indicate an unconscious attempt to control their own emotions.

The behavior goes back to caveman times. Faced with a predator, prehistoric man had three options: flee, fight or be paralyzed. The third option is the least noticeable. No wonder the liar who wants to “outlive” his interlocutor tries to shrink in every possible way.

9) Touching your own body often

Self-hugging and caressing one’s own arms can denote insecurity, anxiety, the need for protection and an unconscious return to a childlike posture, explains Camargo.

There are several touches to one’s own body that betray liars. Passing your hands on your legs to remove imaginary dirt, for example, can denote worry and anxiety. Scratching your nose is another characteristic gesture, says the expert: during his testimony in the Monica Lewinsky case, former US President Bill Clinton touched his nose more than 25 times.

10) Shrug only one shoulder

This is one of the most classic signs of lying, according to American psychologist Paul Ekman, considered one of the world’s leading experts on facial and body expressions.

The posture of the person who lacks truth is asymmetrical: one of his shoulders is raised or slightly projected forward. With the gesture, he tries to convey indifference and little concern for what he is saying. This underhanded disdain often appears in the liar’s voice as well.

11) Try to get away from the interlocutor

Camargo says that one of the techniques most used by experts to unmask a liar is to get as close as possible to him during a delicate question. This tactic can make him more anxious and prone to giving in.

That’s because, the further away you can be from the other, the safer he will feel. The attempt to maintain a comfortable distance appears both physically and verbally: he will also try to stay away from the thornier details of his story. Still, you have to be careful with this sign. “Certain liars get intensely close to their victims,” writes the expert.

This article was originally published on Exame.com.