Lies come in many different forms. There are little ones, like telling your boss you were away from your laptop because you were answering the door, when really you were staring into space or scrolling through your phone. And there are big ones – some of which can have a global impact.
But how can you tell when someone is lying? Some people are better at it than others – although they may still get found out eventually – while there are usually signs that you can look for that can act as the giveaway.
We’ll run you through some of those, as well as key findings unearthed following research carried out by contact lens specialists Lenstore. Let’s start with some of those facts and figures. Because the numbers don’t lie…
A survey of 2,000 UK adults found that:
- 20% admitted lying once every day and 10% tell up to 10 fibs in that time.
- The average Brit tells three lies a week – that’s more than 150 over the course of a year!
- Men lie more frequently – 24% copped to telling at least one a day, compared to 16% of women.
- Pretending you’re busy to avoid seeing someone or doing something is the most common lie, with 38% of people admitting to having done that.
- Next on the list was saying you’ve not seen messages when you have (30%) and, perhaps more worryingly, 27% reported saying they were OK when the opposite was true.
So, what are some of the signs that someone might be lying?
Excessive fidgeting
This is a response to anxiety, a physiological reaction that draws blood away from the extremities of the body. So, it could manifest itself in the wringing of hands or shifting from one foot to another.
Eye cues
If they cover their eyes or refuse to look directly at you it may be a sign that they’re nervous about your reaction to the lie they’ve just told. However, if they hold your gaze for too long that can also act as a giveaway, as it may be contrived to try and make you think they are being honest.
Tone of voice
This may be in the form of a higher or lower pitch, but either way it could be an indication that they are under stress and it is affecting their vocal cords.
Talking too much
If they are rambling or embellishing their story unnecessarily, they could be trying to conceal the lie by distracting you with all the other elements of their tale.
Finger pointing
This could mean literally or figuratively. If they are quick to apportion blame onto someone else, it might be because they are feeling guilty about what they’ve done and want to shift the spotlight.
So, if you happen to spot any of these signs, you might be wise to take the information with a pinch of salt!