Five traits of exceptional liars. It's not easy to spot them
Lies can take numerous forms. Some utilize them when sharing the truth becomes uncomfortable, or when they need to hide certain information or embellish their narratives. Moreover, misleading others sometimes begets satisfaction. Experts also offer insight into recognizing deceit.
5:48 AM EDT, October 28, 2023
Prof. Christian L. Hart and Dr. Drew A. Curtis, experts in psychology, penned an article for CNBC Make It about expert liars. They indicated signals one might notice when an individual strays from the truth.
It's a common belief that one can determine dishonesty by observing an individual's body language. However, as Malcolm Gladwell stated in his book "Talking to Strangers", this is not entirely accurate. Occasionally, individuals who tell the absolute truth exhibit eccentric behaviors. They display nervous gestures, turn red or explain in excessive detail. Compelling liars – quite the reverse. It's extremely challenging to spot them based solely on their behavior.
Five traits that define masterful liars
What distinguishes remarkable liars and how do they behave? Here are five out of nine examples highlighted by the experts in their article for CNBC Make It.
1. They are innate manipulators
Seasoned liars have no reservations about resorting to manipulation. Twisting facts and influencing others doesn’t unsettle them. Quite the opposite. When they deceive, they exude confidence, and appear dominant and relaxed.
2. They are skilled at feigning emotions
An experienced liar can perfectly conceal their true emotions beneath the veneer of feelings elicited by the situation at hand. They can convincingly fake happiness, surprise, sadness, or even scorn, disregarding their genuine emotional state.
Furthermore, to seem credible, they exaggerate their reactions using facial expressions. They frown, raise their eyebrows or reveal their teeth at opportune moments. All aimed to disorient the other person.
This resonates with findings by researchers revealing that expressive individuals are perceived as charismatic, genuine and empathetic.
3. A deceiver discloses only what is necessary
Lies should be premeditated and strategically told. Hence, their narrative should follow a plan as well. If a deceiver divulges too many details, they may quickly find themselves tangled in a web of lies aimed at covering up the original deceit. Doing so may even lead to inconsistencies in their account.
Therefore, a deceiver utilizes deceit sparingly . An effective liar imparts enough information to seem believable, nothing more.
4. Deceivers have excellent memory
When truthful individuals are asked to recount the same story on different occasions, they strive to recollect the events. However, since memory can be unpredictable and unreliable, their narrative may differ each time.
For liars, inconsistencies in their account could potentially expose their deceit. Consequently, they almost memorize the yarn they've spun or embellished. In this manner, even after the fiftieth retelling, it's identical to the first and contains no discrepancies which might normally arise over time.
5. Liars are attentive listeners
Fraudsters instinctively gauge the mood of their audience. They ascertain whether a listener requires more information or is content with the details provided. They perceive when suspicion arises and reassurance is needed, and when to subtly switch topics.
How to identify a deceiver
The authors of the CNBC article emphasize that deceivers are practiced in exploiting fabrications to advantage. Deception has simply become one means of achieving their ends. Therefore, experts suggest ways to evade being deceived.
A straightforward strategy is verifying the speaker's allegations. Blatant lies often contradict proven facts. Hence, fact-checking can effectively limit a deceiver's capacity to camouflage their motives.
It can also be beneficial to request evidence supporting the narrative. Alternatively, focus on specific assertions that may seem unconvincing. A lie, skillfully interwoven within a plausible story but isolated, may not hold up.
About the experts:
Dr. Christian L. Hart is a Psychology Professor at Texas Woman's University, where he lectures on deception and researches factors influencing deceit. He is the co-author of the book: "Big Liars: What Psychological Science Tells Us About Lying and How You Can Avoid Being Duped".
Dr. Drew A. Curtis is a Psychologist and Director of Counseling Psychology programs at Angelo State University. He established and manages the Clinical Science and Deception Laboratory at ASU. He is also a co-author of "Big Liars…". Among his notable works are a textbook on Abnormal Psychology, a book on Psychopathology, and various articles on deception.
