• 5 reasons for us difficult to determine when we lie •


Some people believe that they can identify a liar at a glance. But in fact it is not. Daunting phrases our parents in the style of "I love you to see through!" and piercing eyes, from which you want to sink into the ground or evaporate psychological tricks are more than a reality. Under this pressure, we are telling the truth, and are more resistant and indifferent and continue to lie. Moreover, even lie detectors do not always cope with this problem and the correct result is more luck.

So why are we mistaken? Ronald E. Ridge, PhD and Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology, thinks he knows 5 reasons why people can not determine when they are lying.

The reasons that we believe liars

The reason №1. We rely on stereotypes

These stereotypes are not always accurate. For example, for some reason it is assumed that liars tend not to look into the eyes of the other person when lying. In fact, quite the opposite - liars support long eye contact in order to look more truthful.

For example, I'm starting to behave similarly, if in a hurry somewhere and I'm embarrassed to interrupt the interlocutor.

Reason №2. Displaced trust

Studies have shown that people have a unique mechanism of trust, which by default is programmed to trust most people. Even in those studies in which participants claimed that half of the people lying, they still believe the majority of honest people liars.

Reason №3. Some people just seem to be more honest

Each of us has a non-verbal communication style, and sometimes it happens that some people seem to be more honest. This is called "displacement behavior." Those who are more emotionally expressive, speak and move smoothly, seem to be more honest than those who have a vicious look and jerky, restless speech.

Reason №4. We do not get a response about our ability to detect liars

The only way to know whether we could identify a liar - ask him about it directly. And we do not have to get an honest answer. So hone your skills lie detector we can hardly. Is it just got a job in the Department of Investigation.

Reason №5. Just have a very easy to navigate

The last and the main reason for us to bring liars difficult to clean water, is their preparedness. If false pre-rehearsed, to distinguish it from the truth will be very, very difficult. Deceivers rehearse their answers and watch their nonverbal cues.

And how beautifully they tell! One need only recall Ostap Bender - believe me, in the modern world is full of the same Ostapov. We can determine that we lie only in the case when preparing for this in advance and follow all the foregoing. Determine if a lie was as easy as many people think, it would not be deceived investors, wives and husbands.

There is another little trick! If you ask a liar to tell what happened at the event back to front, ie from the end to the beginning, it will likely get confused or in his story will be a big discrepancy between the original version, even if it is well prepared.

And sometimes a sign of a lie can be long and detailed answers to simple short question. Of course, provided that such a manner of speech is not natural to the human