The Body Language of Lying

Everyone wants to know whether they are being told the truth or being lied to. Life is way too confusing when you don't know that. Sometimes - though - there may be reasons why you don't want to give away your every thought. Either way - it's good to know about the body language of lying.

When a person lies - they generally feel uncomfortable about it. They will usually display some gestures that conflict with the words they are saying. Some of these might be hand-to-face movements. They will often touch their hand to their eye - ear - or mouth.

Eye movement can also be a kind of body language that shows when people lie. If they are talking about the past - they look up and left. If they are talking of the future - they look up and right. If they're looking towards the past - they're remembering. If they're looking towards the future with their body language - they're coming up with a lie.

People who are concerned with their lying will try to act out the part. They will memorize where to look when they talk. They will try not to touch their faces. They will try to look you right in the eye. They will try to monitor all their body language to suit their deception.

A person who lies habitually - on the other hand - will seem normal in every way. This person no longer feels anything about lying - good or bad. A person like this will feel no need to suppress body language because his⁄her body language only shows how comfortable he⁄she is.

Also - a salesperson who speaks fast may appear dishonest because that's what people have come to believe. Actually - when people speak extra slowly - with many long pauses - it is more often an indicator of deceit. This form of body language includes both pauses and speech errors.

Any touching or the slightest rubbing of the nose is considered by some as a surefire way to tell that someone is lying. Certainly - it can be. On the other hand - the person may just have a skin condition that affects the skin of their nose. Their nose might itch or they may have a cold. It doesn't pay to jump to conclusions about body language.

If someone hides their lies fairly easily - they can still be found out by their micro-gestures. These are smaller movements of body language - or facial expressions that exhibit an emotion. A liar might wrinkle up the nose - as if in disgust.

This is a small gesture - however - and may be missed. Another micro-gesture is when the person curls down the corners of the mouth. These kinds of body language show lies as surely as more obvious signals do if you only know how to look for them.

Poker players engage in a type of lying called the bluff. Players make a science out of figuring out the other players' "tells." These are slight micro-gestures the players will make when they have a good or bad hand. The gestures are usually unique to each individual player - and it takes study to know your opponent. These players are highly in tune with each other's body language.

Most people will tell a harmless lie from time to time. Almost all of us have been lied to. Body language can be used to determine if you or someone else is really telling the truth.