Psychology of Lying
How and why lying is an art…
Psychology of Lying
• Three criteria relevant to a statement be
classified as a lie:
1.The statement is false.
2.Its producer believes it to be false.
3.It is intended that others believe it to be true.
- Raison d’etre (1987)
Psychology of Lying
• Forensic Psychology:
4 Theories that suit a liar
1. Deception Theory:
- Many theoretical perspectives
- 3 such examples:
1. Zuckerman, DePaulo, & Rosenthal’s (1981) multiple
factor model
2. DePaulo’s Self-Presentational Perspective
3. Buller and Burgoon’s Interpersonal Deception Theory
(IDT) (1996)
Psychology of Lying
4 Theories that suit a liar (con’t)
• “Fact that people lie will not affect their
behavior, speech content, or physiological
responses
Psychology of Lying
4 Theories that suit a liar (con’t)
2. People’s Views on How Liars Respond
**With exception of prisoners, people do not differ in their
beliefs about deception **
Beliefs:
a) Liars will react nervously by “looking away”
(Global Deception Team, 2006)
b) Liars experience cognitive load when telling convincing
lies
c) People find “odd responses,” ones that vary from the
normal expectations, suspicious (Bond, Omar, Pitre,
Lashley, Skaggs, & Kirk, 1992)
Psychology of Lying
4 Theories that suit a liar (con’t)
3. Impression Formation Theory
- Impressions & judgments are made quickly &
intuitively, and just a mere glance of another
person can trigger such impressions and
judgments (Ambady, Bernieri, & Richeson, 2000)
- Physical appearance is important
- Good looking people are typically thought of as
more honest (Aune, Levine, Ching, & Yoshimoto,
1993; Bull, 2004; Bull & Rumsey, 1988)
Psychology of Lying
4 Theories that suit a liar (con’t)
4. Persuasion Theory
- Effective communication is key to successful
lying, b/c perceived as “likeable”
- Characteristics included in this theory:
* Direct eye gaze *Smiling *Head nodding
* Leaning forward * Posture mirroring
Psychology of Lying
• Characteristics of Good Liars
- Personality: Manipulators, Actors, Expressive
People
- Behavior: Honesty, Likeability, Natural
Performers
- Emotions: Lack of feelings of Guilt & Fear,
Ability to Camouflage emotions
Psychology of Lying
• Characteristics of Good Liars (con’t)
- Cognitive Load: Do not experience much
cognitive load
- Decoding Skills: Liars adapt their responses if
responses raise suspicions in receiver
Psychology of Lying
• “Neuro-Linguistic Programming” – Dr. Derren Brown
Eye Accessing Cues
Up and to the Left – Visualizing a true image
Up and to the Right - Putting together a false image
Down and to the Left – True dialog
Down and to the Right – Emotion
Straight to the Left – Sounds: True sound/Voice
Straight to the Right – Creating a sound/Voice
Psychology of Lying
• What if you cannot see them/their eyes?
Things to look for:
- Fast talking - Sound nervous/anxious
- Cough/clear throat for no reason
- Laugh softly for no reason – Overly persuasive
- Listen to their facts, then run story by them again
- Voice talks in higher pitch
- ** Common Behaviors – Agitation & Anxiousness
Psychology of Lying
• Compulsive Liars
- Pseudo logia fantastica – behavior of
habitual/compulsive lying
- Robert Reich, M.D.- “It has to do with selfesteem. You want to be like someone else
because you aren’t very happy with yourself.”
Psychology of Lying
• Extra Tips
1. Inconsistencies
2. Catch liars off guard – Ask unexpected questions
3. Look for changes from normal behavior
4. Look for Insincere Emotion – Angry face with a smile
5. Pay attention to Gut Reaction
6. Watch for very quick reactions-most won’t see
7. Look for Contradictions
8. A Sense of Unease
9. Too much Detail
10.Logic Has it’s Place
Psychology of Lying
• References
lying and deception – raison detre, Penguin Book of Lies,
(Published 1987), Telling Lies,
http://psychology.jrank.org/pages/1414/lyingdeception.html#ixzz0gSsniqX1
http://www.thepalmbeachtimes.com/Pages/HowToSpotALiar.ph
p
http://www.forensicpsychologyunbound.ws/ - 2009.1: E56-E57
Psychology of Lying
• References (con’t)
http://www.helium.com/items/806463-how-to-tell-ifsomebody-is-lying.com
http://www.psychologytoday.com/print/25000