How to Tell if Someone is Lying in a Survival Situation

HOW TO TELL IF SOMEONE IS LYING TO YOU

Knowing if someone is telling the truth is important, but it is essential in a survival situation. 

An untruthful subject refuses and is reluctant to provide information, or conceals information by telling lies.  Since a subject can be truthful and deceptive, it is important to ask one question at a time. Look at each response for clusters.  Your goal should be to conduct an interview that looks for the truth, not deception.  The truth can be imitated and replicated, and may cause you to miss deceptive behaviors. A subject may have learned to overcome deceptive behaviors.  In addition, the subject may not view their behavior as untruthful or deceptive. In their mind, they are taking care of their family and will do whatever they need to meet that goal.

• 38% of communication is verbal (voice, pitch, stress, tones, pauses).
• 55% of communication is non-verbal (expression/gestures).
• 7% of communication is content.
• Subsequent studies tend to support that 65-70% of the meaning is communicated non-verbally.

LYING INDICATORS: Verbal Cues

• Repeating the question
• Stalling because they need time to think of a lie

• Being overly specific
• Provides more information than is asked for

• Giving non-answers
• Give a answer to buy time to think

• That’s a good question
• Try to flatter you to get on your good side

• Who, me?
• Strong indicator that they are lying

• No, sir
• If the subject answer lots of questions but then for only one of them says “no sir”

• Tendency to qualify answers
• To be perfectly honest…
• Frankly…
• To the best of my knowledge…
• To the best of my recollection…

• Too happy, too friendly, overly polite
• Attitude contradicts with current situation

• Failure to understand a simple question

• Compliments
• When it is not appropriate
• Tries to get on you good side

• Invoke religion
• swear to deity
• I swear on a stack of bibles

• Selective memory
• Statements like, “Not that I can remember.”

• Complains:
• Subject complains about not feeling well
• They are too cold/hot
• Is redirecting your focus

• Protests
• Active attempt to fool the questioner
• Turn the weapon back on itself

 Non-verbal deceptive behavior 

• Behavioral pauses/delays
• Subject if buying time with pauses

• Gross shifts/body movements
• The subject moves one or more major anchor points (feet, arms, elbows, hands, seat) in response to a question or statement. The subject may begin to swivel in their chair, excessive shifting of their body, etc. It is important to consider timing here – remember the 3-5 second window.

• Backward movement:
• This is a fight or flight movement. If the question is threatening, the subject will move back, step back or roll back the chair. You need to be careful to remain in a neutral space.

• Inappropriate eye contact:
• What is the duration? 2 – 3 seconds is normal
• What is the percentage? Under 30% is normal
• Are there cultural differences? (You will need a baseline for different countries.)

• Inappropriate posture
• The subject uses what you view as inappropriate posture. Closed posture is not necessarily deceptive. It could indicate nervousness as well. In addition, if the subject has a defensive posture when answering questions, it could be a sign he/she is being deceptive

PHYSICAL BEHAVIOR:

• Adjusting clothing
• Winding watch or jewelry adjustment
• Inspecting nails
• Cleaning up surroundings
• Hiding mouth or eyes
• Bouncing and swinging legs
• Rubbing and wringing hands
• Scratching, stroking, picking, and pinching
• Clearing throat, coughing, and sniffing (after question but before they answer)
• Pulling lips and swallowing
• Biting nails, lip, pencil
• Wiping sweat
• Shuffling and tapping

NOTE: STEREOTYPING

When you stereotype, you lose sight of possible suspects or suspicious activities that could put you and others at risk. The use of stereotyping and prejudices are usually based on personal and professional experiences.