How To Tell If Someone Is Lying - Part 2

August 8, 2012

Interview with Maryann Karinch, author of the book How to Spot a Liar, Revised Edition: Why People Don't Tell the Truth...and How You Can Catch Them

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Mike Carruthers:
In trying to tell if someone is lying to you there is no 1 single way but there are clues.

Maryann Karinch:
Like the tone of voice yelling all of sudden or being super, super assertive, “I swear on my mother’s grave this is a great tax plan.” Wait a minute.
 

Maryann Karinch, author of the book How to Spot a Liar...

Here’s a hot tip you ask them a question. And instead of answering the question they’ll rephrase it so I say, “Where were you last night? Well, what do you mean where was I last night?” Or “Where were you last night? You know I had a really, really long drive after work.” Well in both of those cases - 1 case you’re rephrasing the question basic ally repeating it, in the other case you’re starting to talk about something else.

Again it doesn’t mean they are lying but they might be so you might want to probe a little deeper. Too much eye contact is another clue.

Because that’s a very strange thing for people to do to just stare at you. I know that in this culture we’re told that maintaining eye contact is a really good thing but I think that’s creepy – it really isn’t normal.

In general though Maryann says people are pretty truthful.

Unless they’re trying to lie for entertainment where they have something to protect, you know this is love hate or greed unless you suspect there’s some kind of agenda like that people generally don’t lie.