FBI-trained body language expert shares three obvious signs someone is lying

24 March 2024 , 07:54

647     0

An expert has revealed that a combination of ‘subconscious’ cues can indicate you’re not being told the whole truth (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A former security expert with 30 years experience has revealed the three tell-tale signs someone might be lying to you.

Scott Taylor, 51, worked in security for decades and has a unique eye for shifty body language, after training in "facial micro-expressions, deception detection, influential behaviours, and statement and word analysis". Being able to spot a lie from a mile off led to him working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and also saw him working as the lead interrogator at Guantanamo Bay.

According to Taylor, a combination of signs can be indicative of a false statement or lie, rather than one specific sign - depending on the person telling the porky. But among these "subconscious" cues, the three "obvious" signs include fast blinking, hard swallowing and licking of the lips.

Speaking of rapid eye motions and blinking, Mr Taylor told the MailOnline: "We blink 12 to 14 blinks per minute, and people under stress and duress, their blink rate spikes." Previous research found that when telling a lie, people sometimes blink less, before blinking more as soon as they’ve told the lie in a "compensatory effect". So even if they seem to be blinking normally while speaking (in order to seem truthful) awareness of how their eyes react afterwards can be important too.

Former FBI interrogator Scott Taylor shared his unique eye for spotting out shifty body language (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Mr Taylor also says "lip licking and hard swallowing" are major signals of deception. He explained: "When people lie we release cortisol, the stress hormone, and it dries out our mouth and slows down our saliva". Other abnormal behaviours that are caused by high levels of stress include "touching along the lines of their face" and protecting "power zones" like the chin, stomach and groin.

Body of boy, 5, missing for three months recovered from fast-flowing river

Forced language is also another key sign you're not being told the whole truth. Mr Taylor said: "Truth tellers convey and liars convince, so you don’t need to say, 'I’m 100% definite' or 'certain' if you are definite or certain. These people are selling not telling, so they give you additional filler or additional eye contact because they think, 'I want to be more convincing'."

However, it is worth noting that some signs we perceive as signs of "lying" may just be nervous habits. In some cases, your own judgement can be clouded by your thoughts about the person – or perhaps they’re just a particularly skilled manipulator. In others, they could be nervous for a different reason or generally be twitchy person. They may even just need a glass of water - so it's always best to try not to jump to conclusions before getting the facts.

Top 12 signs someone might be lying to you

1. Blinking more
2. Lip licking
3. Hard swallowing
4. Touching their face
5. Angling their body away
6. Dipping their chin
7. Flushing or blushing
8. Lip compression and pulling
9. Changing eye movements
10. Assuming language like ‘you know’ or ‘obviously’
11. Overly convincing language, like ‘certain’, ‘definite’, or ‘100%’
12. Expanded contractions, such as ‘do not’ instead of ‘don’t’

Joseph Gamp