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At work, at a party or even at home: do you know how to recognize liars? In this article, we give you some very practical tips for detecting them.
Who has never lied to avoid a night out, fix things with their partner or get out of an embarrassing situation? Everyone – or almost. Yes, lying is a universal experience and remains without (major) consequences – if it does not harm others. Despite everything, knowing how to spot liars in your close circle can be very useful. Sophie Vignoles, linguistic expert and head of learning content production at Babbel, gives us some tips for recognizing them.
Good in his body, good in his head!
“Linguistic markers” of deception
Liars can be friends, family members, co-workers, or anyone else. However, if they blend easily into our circles of influence, fortunately they can be detected… thanks to linguistic elements.
“The nuances of language offer a fascinating window into the human psyche. By uncovering the linguistic markers of deception, we gain not only tools for detecting lies, but also deeper insights into the complexities of human communication, inspiring us to cultivate our listening and critical thinking skills“, confides Sophie Vignoles, head of learning content production at Babbel, before revealing her 4 anti-deception tips.
A simplistic story
First detail and not the least: when a person lies, their story is often “simplified”. In this way, errors and inconsistencies are avoided.
“This reduction in cognitive complexity is also manifested by short and succinct answers to certain questions, a reluctance to provide more details, or the use of vague and generic expressions.reveal the linguists in the press release.
Conversely, other liars can also “overdo it.” A profusion of details should therefore alert you.
“By trying to do too much, the liar sometimes risks betraying himself… Thus, the truth sometimes lies in a subtle balance between the information provided.”
“We” is preferred to “I”
To avoid being the big culprit in the story, the liar will use “we” more often.
As experts point out, “whether or not personal pronouns are used in a story can also serve as an indicator of possible deception“.
Indeed, the use of the pronoun “we” helps to create distance from the lie.
An annoying insistence
“I swear to you”, “it’s the truth”, “in all honesty”… are expressions that can be suspect. Indeed, being too frank can give rise to doubts.
“What child has never said to their parents “I swear” while letting their gaze slide towards the ground?“, ask the Babbel experts.
Slower speech rate
Contrary to popular belief, a speech rate that is too slow should alert you.
“Individuals who lie spontaneously have a slower rate of speech and response compared to those who tell the truth“, confirm the experts, before adding: “This slower speech rate could reflect the cognitive load involved in creating and maintaining a lie, especially when the lie is not premeditated.”
Also watch out for language tics (“um”, “here”, “actually”, etc.) which give the liar additional time to refine his story.
Slide: You and your little sex lies