Whether it's a tiny little fib or a massive untruth, being lied to can be painful. Even if you completely trust your partner, she may tell you small lies to keep you from getting hurt or getting upset. Although you may never know for sure if your partner is lying unless she confesses to you, learn to pick up common body language clues that may inform you if someone in your life--a coworker, partner or family member--is lying to you.
Step 1
Forget eye contact, says Michael Wheeler, a professor at Harvard Business School in the article titled "Spotting the Liar" in "Psychology Today." The concept that a person who lies diverts his eyes away from the person he is speaking to is a misconception, Wheeler explains.
Step 2
Say nothing. If an individual is lying, she may try to fill up the empty space with additional information that you did not ask for in an attempt to sound more believable, says body language expert Janine Driver in the article titled "Lying and Body Language" on Oprah.com.
Step 3
Watch for sweating. An individual may begin to sweat or get flushed if he is not telling the truth. Ask detailed questions about the event the person is describing to see if he becomes more sweaty and flustered.
Step 4
Ask questions to see if the individual becomes hostile. A liar may become more hostile when questioned than someone relaying an event that actually happened.
Step 5
Listen to the individual's tone of voice. If the person maintains a steady tone of voice throughout the conversation, then suddenly goes up in pitch for seemingly no reason, he may be telling an untruth.
Tips and Warnings
- Consider the reason the person in question may have to lie to you, specifically.
- Consult a therapist if someone you know may be a compulsive liar.
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