Ever wondered how to detect a liar without feeling like a detective? We’ve got you covered. In this blog, we’ll take you through 11 surefire tricks to detect a liar.
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Whether it’s reading body language or noticing speech patterns, you’ll discover easy and effective ways that can help you outsmart a liar. Ready to become a human lie detector? Let’s get started.
1. Look Out for Inconsistencies
One of the best ways to detect a liar is by watching for inconsistencies. When a person is lying, they become uncomfortable and stutter. Details might change, or their facts don’t line up.
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When they keep changing their stories, then it becomes a very big sign. An honest person’s story doesn’t change even if you question them more than once.
2. Pay Attention to Repetition
People who lie are likely to repeat themselves. And when they’re nervous, they’ll repeat the same phrase as if trying to convince themselves. So, if someone is repeating their point over and over, it may be because they’re trying to lie convincingly.
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Sincere people don’t have to over-emphasize when explaining. When you pay attention to these patterns, detecting a liar becomes much easier.
3. Check for the Sincerity of Emotions
A person’s emotions should match their words. This means that if a person tells you something like ‘I’m happy’ and yet they’re sad you can detect a liar at work.
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People who lie usually fake emotions, but their body or face gives them away. It’s necessary to notice these little clues when you’re trying to catch a liar in action.
4. Watch Out for Excess Information
Have you ever had a conversation with a person and they start elaborating on things you never asked for? It’s something that liars often do to make you shift your focus somewhere else.
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They exaggerate, and provide more information than necessary in a bid to appear more reliable. Spotting a liar is so much easier when you notice these unnecessary details.
5. Notice Unnatural Body Language
Body language can be a giveaway when trying to detect a liar. The liar may squirm, look down, or sit rigidly. So, if their gestures are not in sync with their speech, there’s a good chance they’re not being honest.
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Look out for some signs such as giggling, jiggling legs, or squirming during a conversation.
6. Look Out for Delayed Responses
Liars need time to think. So, if you ask a question and notice that there’s silence and then a response, that’s a clue. They’re probably trying to find something believable to say.
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Honest persons are fast in responding because they don’t have to fabricate a story to tell. Sometimes, delays are often a sign you need to catch a liar.
7. Observe Their Speech Patterns
Liars often trip up with their speech. They may slur their words, pause, or perhaps, speak too quickly. Lying is a clear indicator of dishonesty, and when people try to lie convincingly, they change their speech.
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Look out for these subtle shifts, especially if they normally speak smoothly. Knowing this can help you learn how to detect a liar more easily.
8. Listen for Changes in Tone
The tone of voice can reveal a lot when trying to detect a liar. This is evident because when liars are nervous they may raise or lower their voice. It may alter their pitch as they try to cover up for inconsistencies in their narrative.
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If someone’s tone suddenly becomes more tense or defensive, it could be a sign they’re hiding something.
9. Spot Overly Defensive Behavior
Ever notice someone gets overly defensive when questioned? That’s a classic liar move. If they respond by saying you don’t trust them or don’t answer at all, they could be lying.
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It’s also important to note that being defensive is a way of diverting attention from the lie, making it easier for them to lie convincingly. Be calm and stay alert.
10. Ask Unexpected Questions
Want to know how to detect a liar fast? Ask them a question they’ve not prepared for. Liars normally over-rehearse their stories, but when you ask them something off-script, they stumble.
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Catch them off-guard with an unexpected question, and you’ll see how quickly they stumble. This genius trick works wonders when spotting a liar.
11. Trust Your Gut
Never ignore your instincts. Sometimes, you can just feel when something’s off. If you have a hunch that someone is lying, then you should believe it. Your brain can subconsciously detect signals even if you can’t consciously identify them.
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In essence, learning how to detect a liar is a combination of observation and instinct, so you should follow your instincts.