In an ideal world, we’d be able to trust everyone. But the real world is far from perfect, so having a few tools in our belt to detect deceit can be useful. While certain professionals, like law enforcement officers, are trained to spot liars, the rest of us can still hone our ‘lie-detecting radar’ by observing certain behaviors typical of those who aren’t telling the truth.
So, how can you, as an average person, spot these indicators and discern a lie?
This article will discuss the role of “cognitive load” in lie detection and guide you through nine signs to identify liars.
The Role of “Cognitive Load”
Cognition, as we know, involves our conscious mental activities – the processes by which we understand the world around us. Dr. John Sweller, a cognitive psychologist from the University of New South Wales, introduced the theory of “cognitive load” in 1988.
The “cognitive load” theory suggests that our cognitive structure consists of working memory and long-term memory. Our working memory, often referred to as short-term memory, is limited and can only hold between 5 to 9 pieces of information or chunks at one time. When processing information, it can only manage about two to three pieces simultaneously.
In simple terms, there’s a cap on how much information our brains can process at once.
Telling a lie imposes an additional cognitive load because reconstructing events in a fabricated manner intensifies the cognitive challenges for the liar. They need to exert more mental energy to maintain their fabricated story. Once they start lying, not only do they have to recall the real events but also how they’ve manipulated them and the process of these alterations, which can be overwhelming for the brain.
To tease out the truth from the lies, psychologists in the West amplify this “cognitive load” to stretch the brain’s information-processing capacity, thus assessing an individual’s credibility.
A method applied is the reverse storytelling technique, asking individuals to recount events in reverse order. This is more challenging than narrating sequentially. Given the brain’s limitations in processing information rapidly, inconsistencies can quickly emerge, revealing potential deceit.
How to Tell If Someone Is Lying Through 9 Signs?
Now that we’re familiar with the concept of “cognitive load,” let’s delve into nine telltale signs to spot a fibber:
01/09 Overlooking sensory details
Liars tend to skip many of the minor details that truthful people naturally include in their stories. These omissions can make it hard to maintain consistency later on. Truth-tellers might mention background music or the color of flowers on a table. In contrast, those fabricating the truth often leave these details out to avoid potential inconsistencies.
02/09 Frequent admissions of memory faults
Those speaking the truth generally don’t struggle to remember real events or situations, as they’ve experienced them. On the other hand, liars often blame a poor memory, when in fact, the sheer volume of their fabrications makes it hard to recall which parts were true and which weren’t.
03/09 Continuous self-correction
Due to the overwhelming amount of information they need to process in a short time, liars often catch themselves: “Her name was Lily, no, it’s Nana, wait, maybe it was Qianqian.” While you don’t need to count the number of times this happens, if it’s frequent enough, it might indicate they’re hiding something.
04/09 Being brief and vague
The longer, more complete, and clearer a story is, the more likely it’s genuine. Telling one lie or a series of them requires extra effort, creating and storing a whole scene in one’s mind. Brevity might be the “soul of wit,” but it can also be the hallmark of deception.
05/09 Illogical and full of contradictions
True stories often flow better than lies. For instance, someone might claim not to care about money one moment, only to give an extensive speech about making money the next. Or someone might boast about their integrity, only to gossip moments later. If what you’re hearing doesn’t align with what you know, chances are, you’re not getting the full truth.
06/09 Pondering excessively
If someone seems uncertain, or worse, is taking a considerable effort to craft a plausible story, it’s a sign their cognitive load is surging. While truthful individuals might occasionally struggle to recall past events, if something is recent and significant, they shouldn’t be this uneasy with every bit of their narration. For instance, if you ask a recent job leaver the reason for their departure, their response should be fairly consistent. Conversely, a fabricator might struggle over time to match all the details with other information you might gather.
07/09 Appearing tense, anxious, or restless
Only masterful liars can spin a web of deceit without a hint of anxiety. (In fact, such behavior can sometimes be a hint of certain psychological conditions.) Truth-tellers generally seem relaxed, and while they might appear unhappy at times, they usually don’t seem overly distressed, unless narrating a particularly painful incident.
08/09 Minimal complaints or negative remarks
Surprisingly, those attempting to deceive often refrain from negative comments, aiming to showcase their best side. Such individuals wish to leave a lasting positive impression, masking any adverse reactions, so you’ll be more inclined to like and trust them.
09/09 Unusually slow speech
While truth-tellers maintain a steady pace, deceivers often take an extended period to fabricate a narrative, trying to ensure consistency while omitting anything negative. While we’ve heard of “silver-tongued salespeople,” not all of them lie, they might just aim to sway you. Additionally, a salesperson might race through a well-rehearsed untruth, but a deceptive job applicant could be more cautious when detailing a fictional past.
Become Your Own “Lie Detector”
By keenly observing and applying the above nine signs, you can better discern most untruths, especially if you can coax your “subject” to narrate their story from scratch instead of simply answering yes-or-no questions, making it likelier to unearth the truth. Take a moment, focus, and with some practice, you’ll become your very own “lie detector.”
