“How can you tell when a
politician is lying? When his (or her) lips move.” That’s a tired old chestnut,
but the truth is, whether assessing a candidate or a loved one you fear is
cheating, human beings are pretty lousy at detecting deception.
Politicians can be
especially tricky to catch since most of them have had so much practice.
Between spin doctors, speech writers, media consultants, pr managers,
sycophants and their own often monumental egos, those who would dine at the
public trough are trained to stay on message and exude confidence, sincerity
and trustworthiness. Perhaps more importantly, they develop a keen sense of
what we, the citizenry, want to hear: we warm to positive messages and flinch
from painful truths. And because so many of us are woefully ignorant about the
details of the issues, we, like sheep, are easily led.
The best defense against
a lie is knowledge. If your paramour insists that he was watching the Sunday
game with his buds but you happened to catch a glimpse of him in the lobby of
the boutique hotel where you’d had brunch, well, there you go, both
metaphorically and probably literally. But apart from firsthand knowledge (or
other reliable evidence) are there verbal and nonverbal clues that can give a
liar away? As the debates, both presidential and congressional, loom, being
able to employ your own personal bullshit detector could be most helpful. After
all, we can’t rely on the occurrence of those covetable “misspeaks” or
“off-the-cuff remarks” that reveal precisely what a politician is thinking —
and trying to conceal.
Lying is harder than
telling the truth. Lying is stressful. To be an effective liar requires that
one rehearse and memorize detail rather than rely on memory. Because of the
anxiety associated with lying and the perceived sense of the importance of the
lie, the liar often will give him- or herself away. This is especially true of
politicians since their lives can be exhaustingly busy and lies require energy
and constant attention.
Experts tend to agree
that none of the standard indicators is completely fool – or politician –
proof. Some people are simply really good at lying. Many signs, such as the
fleeting facial tics known as “micro-expressions,” are extremely difficult for
a lay person to distinguish. When applying the following clues to uncover lies
and liars, it’s good policy to temper hubris with modesty: understand that you
might get it wrong. But careful use of them might help you get it right.
1. Notice eye contact.
It’s a myth that liars won’t or can’t make eye contact. However, look for
unnatural eye contact: either the person is unable to maintain contact or s/he
fixes you (or the camera) with a strained and aggressive stare.
2. Read body language.
Pay attention to such indicators as crossed arms or legs, slouching or tilting
the head away: these can indicate the discomfort that accompanies lying.
3. Follow the eyes.
Many researchers posit that when the eyes look up and to the right (his or her
right, not yours) this suggests that the part of the brain linked to the
imagination is being triggered. Conversely, the eyes looking down and to the
left might indicate the part of the brain linked to memory.
4. Look at the hands.
Often liars’ hands will speak eloquently of deception. Watch for clenched
fists, covering the mouth or part of the face, rubbing the eyes, scratching on
or behind the ear.
5. Pay attention to
detail.
The person who offers too much detail, especially unasked, might be lying.
Because the narrative of the lie is fabricated, the liar can often be tripped
up by inconsistencies in the story, especially if the same questions are
repeated after some time has passed.
Politicians’ lips always
move and it’s not always lies that emanate. To truly become a lie detector, you
need to arm yourself with information and intuition. But if you do notice
someone’s pants on fire.
To read more about the signs of deception, check out these websites:
http://www.truthaboutdeception.com/lying-and-deception/detecting-deception/nonverbal-cues.html
http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/15-signs-youre-lying-to-m/
http://www.forbes.com/2006/11/03/detecting-lies-trust-tech_06trust_cx_ee_1103lies.html