White lies aren't always the most egregious of crimes, but they can still be a sign that someone is lying to you. If you're suspicious of your work colleague's or personal life partner's deceit, there are many ways to spot the signs. Most liars leave conversational clues that their lies aren't true. Here are some major tip-offs that you might notice.
Micro-expressions are another way to tell if someone is lying. Micro-expressions last only a quarter of a second, and they represent an emotion concealed from the viewer. People who lie may pretend to smile or to express surprise or disgust in a micro-expression. Even worse, they might even mimic that emotion in other people to make their lie seem more genuine. Practicing identifying these expressions online can help you spot deceptive behaviors before they occur.
Unnecessary pauses: If a person takes long, unnatural pauses during conversations, this could be a sign that they are lying. This is a way for a liar to "stall" and gauge the reaction of their listener. When a liar stalls by using long, unnatural pauses in their speech, they are using their time and mental energy to monitor their behaviors and assess the reaction of other people.
Telltale signs that someone is lying include excessive sweating and nose touching. These are hard to fake and can tell you whether or not they're telling the truth. A person's stress management style may give you a clue if they're lying. They may also be fidgeting to relieve tension, or reaching for a drink or touching their face. It's important to take note of these telltale signs so you can avoid being taken advantage of.
When someone is lying, they may be trying to hide their emotions or try to avoid the conversation. This is a sign that the person is putting up an emotional, communicative, and physical wall. These walls are subconsciously constructed to keep the conversation between the two of you from being detected. So, if you're not sure about these clues, make sure to watch out for these signs.
Another common tell-tale sign of lying is a person's eye contact. Many people make eye contact while lying, but if someone avoids eye contact, it may be an indication that they're lying. Similarly, if someone makes eye contact with you but looks down during or after lying, you should be suspicious. And finally, if someone isn't maintaining eye contact, they aren't telling the truth.