You know that creeping feeling you get when you think someone is lying to you? Well, turns out, that there are body language behaviors that can clue you in on whether someone is being truthful or not. Let’s talk about the signs that might indicate someone is being less than honest.
1. The Eyes Say It All
According to Psychology Today, someone who’s lying might blink more rapidly than usual, a subconscious response to stress. Alternatively, they might avoid eye contact altogether, feeling uncomfortable with the lies. Interestingly, some liars might maintain prolonged eye contact, thinking it makes them appear more honest. Trust your gut if something feels off about their gaze.
2. Fidgety Fingers
Nervous energy often manifests in the hands. A person who’s not being truthful might touch their face more often, especially around the mouth or nose, as if subconsciously trying to cover up the lie. They might also fiddle with objects like pens or jewelry, or engage in self-soothing behaviors like cracking knuckles or interlacing fingers.
3. The Freeze Response
When the body goes still, the lies might be flowing. While some people fidget when lying, others might become unusually still, almost frozen. This can be a sign of heightened focus as they concentrate on maintaining their story. If someone who’s usually animated suddenly becomes statue-like, it could be a red flag.
4. Vocal Variations
The voice can betray even the most practiced liar. A higher pitch might indicate stress while speaking more slowly could suggest they’re carefully constructing their story. Frequent throat clearing or swallowing can be signs of dry mouth, another physiological response to the stress of lying.
5. The Barrier Build-Up
Watch for someone suddenly crossing their arms, holding an object in front of their chest, or positioning themselves behind furniture. These actions can create a literal barrier, which might reflect their desire to distance themselves from their deception or protect themselves from being found out.
6. Incongruent Expressions
Our faces are incredibly expressive, and sometimes they reveal what our words are trying to hide. If someone’s facial expression doesn’t match the content of what they’re saying—like smiling while discussing something sad, nodding while saying “no,” or shaking their head while agreeing verbally—it could be a sign that their words aren’t entirely truthful.
7. Pacifying Behaviors
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According to Psychology Today, when we’re uncomfortable, we often engage in behaviors that help us feel more at ease. Some self-soothing actions that might indicate stress are rubbing the neck or back of the head, smoothing or straightening clothing, or playing with hair or jewelry. These self-soothing or pacifying behaviors can increase when someone is being dishonest, as they try to manage their stress and appear calm.
8. Postural Shifts
Our bodies often try to distance themselves from lies, even if our minds are committed to them. Someone who’s being dishonest might lean back, turn slightly away, or change their posture to create physical distance from the conversation.
9. Micro-Expressions
These lightning-fast expressions can reveal true feelings before a person has time to control their face. A brief flash of anger, fear, or disgust that doesn’t match their words could indicate that there’s more to the story than what’s being said.
10. The Cover-Up
Watch for covering the mouth while speaking, touching or rubbing the nose, or placing a finger on or under the nose. These gestures near the mouth or nose can be subconscious attempts to cover up or hide the lie. It’s as if the body is trying to stop from it coming out.
11. The feet don’t lie
Our feet often reveal our true intentions. If someone’s feet are pointed towards an exit, they might be subconsciously expressing a desire to leave the situation. Increased foot movement or wrapping feet around chair legs can also indicate discomfort or anxiety.
12. Autonomic Responses
Bodily responses are particularly telling because they’re nearly impossible to control consciously. Increased perspiration, changes in skin color (like a flushed face or going pale), or difficulty swallowing can all be signs of the stress associated with lying.
13. Repetitive Behaviors
Repeating questions before answering, using the same phrases multiple times, or reiterating their honesty (“To tell you the truth…”) can be stalling tactics to buy time to think, or attempts to reinforce their story.
14. Distancing Language
Liars often subconsciously try to distance themselves from their deception. They might use passive voice (“Mistakes were made” instead of “I made a mistake”), avoid using “I” statements, or speak in vague terms rather than giving specific details.
15. Excessive Gesturing or Lack Thereof
When lying, some people might gesticulate more than usual, almost like they’re trying to distract from their words or sell their story harder. Others might become unnaturally still, reducing their normal gestures as they focus on controlling their behavior.
