Decoding Deceptive Body Language

TL;DR

Liars leak deception through involuntary body signals: dilated or rapidly blinking eyes, facial expressions that appear as you speak rather than before, hands covering the mouth or hidden palms, and fidgeting or ankle-locked feet. Watch for at least three signs clustered together before judging, and compare against the person's normal behavior.

Transcript

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Key Insights

• Over half of the total impact of a message is communicated non-verbally, so nonverbal cues can be important and reliable tells when someone is lying.
• Pupils are directly wired to the brain and cannot be controlled: they dilate when a person is excited and retract when disinterested, which is why poker players wear sunglasses to hide their eyes.
• Genuine emotion appears on the face first, before the words. If an emotion shows at the same moment as speech, or lasts longer than one second, it is likely faked.
• Lying hand gestures include covering the mouth, scratching the nose (adrenaline makes skin itchy), and rubbing the neck or ear as a childhood reassuring reflex.
• When telling the truth people gesture first and then speak, but when lying they usually say the words first and gesture afterward, revealing a timing mismatch.
• Exposed palms are hard to keep visible while lying, so liars tend to hide their hands in pockets, face palms down, or place them behind an object like a desk.
• According to former FBI analyst Joe Navarro, the feet are the most honest part of the body because people rehearse their faces and hands but rarely their feet.
• Ankle locking, where one ankle crosses the other, signals someone is withholding information, seen in therapy patients holding back emotions and negotiators hiding concessions.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can you tell if someone is lying through their body language?

Look for nonverbal cues from head to toe: the eyes (dilated pupils, rapid blinking, avoiding eye contact), the face (emotions that appear as you speak or last over a second), the hands (covering the mouth, scratching the nose, hidden palms, gesturing after speaking), and the feet (fidgeting, pointing away, ankle locking). View these behaviors in clusters and look for at least three signs before calling foul.

Q: Why do poker players wear sunglasses?

Poker players wear sunglasses because they know your eyes reveal more than you want them to. The pupils are directly wired to the brain and cannot be consciously controlled: they dilate when you are excited and retract when you are disinterested. By covering their eyes, players prevent opponents from reading their hand strength through these involuntary pupil changes, hiding excitement about strong cards.

Q: What do the eyes reveal when someone is lying?

The eyes leak deception in several ways. Pupils, being directly wired to the brain, dilate with excitement and retract with disinterest, and you cannot control them. When someone is being deceptive, their eyes often start blinking frenetically, much faster than usual, or they avoid eye contact altogether. Police know these cues very well, which is why the eyes are considered a strong tell.

Q: How can you tell if a facial expression is fake?

There are two hints. First, genuine emotion shows first on the face, before you speak. If the emotion appears at the same time as your words, it is a dissimulation and likely fake. Second, a real emotion lasts less than a second, so any demonstration of emotion that holds longer than one second is probably being faked or forced.

Q: Why do liars cover their mouth or scratch their nose?

When we lie we tend to make hand movements we would not otherwise make. Covering the mouth acts as if the brain is telling the body it is lying and might get caught, so it covers itself. Scratching the nose happens because lying and nervousness release more adrenaline, which makes the skin itchy. Rubbing the neck or ear is a reassuring reflex carried since childhood.

Q: What does the timing of gestures reveal about lying?

Timing is essential for detecting lies through gestures. When people speak truthfully and gesture at the same time, they always gesture first and then say the words. But when lying, people usually say the words first and then do the gesture. Because gesturing is the most primitive form of human communication, movements are involuntary and instantaneous, so even rehearsed words cannot align their timing.

Q: Why are the feet considered the most honest part of the body?

According to Joe Navarro, an FBI behavioral analyst for 20 years and author of What Everybody Is Saying, the feet are the most honest body part because when we try to control our body we focus on facial expressions and hands, but we often do not rehearse our feet. This lack of rehearsal means the feet leak genuine discomfort, nervousness, and disinterest that people fail to mask.

Q: What is ankle locking and what does it mean?

Ankle locking is when one ankle crosses over the other, and it signals that someone is likely withholding information from you. For example, in therapy sessions many patients lock their ankles as they withhold their emotions. In negotiations, if the person across the table locks their ankles, it likely means they are withholding valuable concessions they are not ready to give up.

Summary

In this video, the presenters discuss the body language of deception and how to spot liars in various situations such as games, interviews, negotiations, and presentations. They go through the different nonverbal cues of deception, starting from the face, then the hands, and finally the feet. They discuss the importance of eye contact, facial expressions, hand gestures, and the positioning of the palms. Additionally, they reveal that feet can be a significant indicator of honesty or deception, highlighting the importance of how someone stands, the movement of their feet, the direction their feet are pointing, and the concept of ankle locking.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some behaviors to look for in the eyes to detect deception?

The presenter mentions that the dilation and retraction of pupils can be a strong indicator of someone's excitement or disinterest. When someone is dissimulating or not interested, their eyes may blink frenetically or they may avoid eye contact altogether.

Q: How can facial expressions be used to detect deception?

Facial expressions can be faked, but there are clues to detect in genuine expressions. The presenter suggests that genuine emotions show on the face first, before someone speaks. If the emotion seems to align with their speech, it may indicate deception. Also, genuine expressions tend to last less than a second, so if an expression lasts longer, it is more likely to be fake.

Q: How can tongue movements be a clue for deception?

When under pressure or stress, the tongue may flick phonetically. This can be observed when someone is trying to deceive, and it can manifest as repetitive tongue movements. For example, the presenter mentions a testimony where John Kerry flicked his tongue like a snake eight times in 90 seconds, potentially indicating deception.

Q: What hand gestures can be indicators of deception?

The presenter mentions a few hand gestures that may suggest deception. Covering the mouth can be a subconscious attempt to hide lies. Scratching the nose can be a result of increased adrenaline, creating itchiness in the skin. Rubbing the neck or ear can be a reassuring reflex from childhood. These gestures can indicate nervousness and a desire to self-soothe when lying.

Q: How does the timing of gestures differ between truth and deception?

Normally, when speaking and gesturing simultaneously, the gesture precedes the words. However, when someone is lying, they tend to say the words first and then make the accompanying gesture. This delayed timing can be a cue for deception.

Q: What is the significance of the positioning of palms in detecting deception?

Palms are an important part of our body for connecting with others, and when someone is lying, they may feel uncomfortable exposing their palms. They may put their hands in their pockets, place them facing down, or hide them behind an object like a desk. This positioning is an attempt to create a barrier or distance between themselves and the people they are lying to.

Q: How can feet reveal signs of deception?

According to the presenter, feet movements can be very telling. The way someone stands can indicate their comfort level and confidence. Crossing the legs may signify a closed and defensive position. Shifting weight or rocking back and forth can indicate nervousness. The direction of the feet can demonstrate interest or disinterest, while ankle locking can suggest a person is withholding information.

Q: Why are feet considered important in detecting deception?

Since people often focus on controlling their facial expressions and hand gestures when lying, they tend not to rehearse their feet movements. As a result, feet behaviors can be more spontaneous and involuntary, making them potentially more honest indicators of deception.

Q: How many signs of lying should be observed before concluding deception?

It is recommended to view behaviors in clusters and look for at least three signs of lying before accusing someone of deception. Gathering multiple nonverbal cues can strengthen the case for detecting lies.

Q: How should this knowledge be applied?

The presenters suggest using this knowledge not only to spot liars in others but also to recognize and manage one's own nonverbal cues. They give examples of situations like the World Series of Poker, tough negotiations, or interviews where this knowledge can be applied to gain an advantage.

Takeaways

Understanding the body language of deception can help in detecting lies in various scenarios. Nonverbal cues such as eye movements, facial expressions, hand gestures, and feet behaviors can reveal important clues. By observing multiple signs and considering the context, one can become better at spotting deception. However, it is essential to apply this knowledge ethically and use it for personal growth as well.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The presentation, drawing on body language expert Carol Goman's research, teaches viewers to detect deception by reading nonverbal cues from the top of the body down: starting with the face, moving to the hands, and ending with the feet.

• Facial tells include uncontrollable pupil dilation, frenetic blinking, avoiding eye contact, and tongue flicking under pressure. Hand tells include covering the mouth, scratching the nose, hiding palms, and gesturing after speaking rather than before.

• The feet are called the most honest body part because they are rarely rehearsed. Signs include an unbalanced stance, constant feet movement, feet pointing away, and ankle locking. Always view behaviors in clusters of at least three.