How to Detect Lies

Become a Human Lie Detector (Part 1)

Warning: sometimes ignorance is bliss. After gaining this knowledge, you may be hurt when it is obvious that
someone is lying to you. The following deception detection techniques are used by police, forensic
psychologists, security experts and other investigators.
Introduction to Detecting Lies:
This knowledge is also useful for managers, employers, and for anyone to use in everyday situations where
telling the truth from a lie can help prevent you from being a victim of fraud/scams and other deceptions.
This is just a basic run down of physical (body language) gestures and verbal cues that may indicate someone
is being untruthful.
If you got here from somewhere else, be sure to check out our Lie Detection index page for more info
including new research in the field of forensic psychology. Last update: June 5th, 2011.
Signs of Deception:
Body Language of Lies:
• Physical expression will be limited and stiff, with few arm and hand movements. Hand, arm and leg
movement are toward their own body the liar takes up less space.
• A person who is lying to you will avoid making eye contact.
• Hands touching their face, throat & mouth. Touching or scratching the nose or behind their ear. Not likely to
touch his chest/heart with an open hand.
Emotional Gestures & Contradiction
• Timing and duration of emotional gestures and emotions are off a normal
pace. The display of emotion is delayed, stays longer it would naturally, then
stops suddenly.
• Timing is off between emotions gestures/expressions and words. Example:
Someone says "I love it!" when receiving a gift, and then smile after making
that statement, rather then at the same time the statement is made.
• Gestures/expressions don’t match the verbal statement, such as frowning
when saying “I love you.”
• Expressions are limited to mouth movements when someone is faking
emotions (like happy, surprised, sad, awe, )instead of the whole face. For
example; when someone smiles naturally their whole face is involved:
jaw/cheek movement, eyes and forehead push down, etc.
Also see our article on micro expressions & lying.

Interactions and Reactions

• A guilty person gets defensive. An innocent person will often go on the
offensive.
• A liar is uncomfortable facing his questioner/accuser and may turn his head
or body away.
• A liar might unconsciously place objects (book, coffee cup, etc.) between
themselves and you.
Verbal Context and Content
• A liar will use your words to make answer a question. When asked, “Did you
eat the last cookie?” The liar answers, “No, I did not eat the last cookie.”
•A statement with a contraction is more likely to be truthful: “ I didn't do it”
instead of “I did not do it”

• Liars sometimes avoid "lying" by not making direct statements. They imply
answers instead of denying something directly.
• The guilty person may speak more than natural, adding unnecessary details to convince you... they are not
comfortable with silence or pauses in the conversation.

• A liar may leave out pronouns and speak in a monotonous tone. When a truthful statement is made the
pronoun is emphasized as much or more than the rest of the words in a statement.
• Words may be garbled and spoken softly, and syntax and grammar may be off. In other
words, his sentences will likely be muddled rather than emphasized.
• The use of distancing language.
Also see our article on Statement Analysis for a more in-depth look at word analysis techniques used by
interrogators.
Other signs of a lie:
• If you believe someone is lying, then change subject of a conversation quickly, a liar follows along willingly
and becomes more relaxed. The guilty wants the subject changed; an innocent person may be confused by the
sudden change in topics and will want to back to the previous subject.
• Using humor or sarcasm to avoid a subject.
Final Notes:
Obviously, just because someone exhibits one or more of these signs does not make them a liar. The above
behaviors should be compared to a persons base (normal) behavior whenever possible.
Most lie detecting experts agree that a combination of body language and other cues must be used to make
an educated guess on whether someone is telling the truth or a lie.

Micro Expressions, Subtle Body Language and Lying

Is the show "Lie to Me" for real?
I am not a police interrogator, scientist, or other expert... I am however a mother & people watcher.
Years ago, when I wrote articles on How to Detect Lies & Eye Movement and Lying -- I knew of the Micro
expression theory, but had a difficult time researching the subject well enough to relay it into an article.
Recently, I've come across tons of new research, websites, articles, videos, etc. about micro expressions and
believe anyone who reads my old articles about lying & body language would benefit from micro expression
research and theory.
What are Micro Expressions?
A micro expression is a momentary involuntary facial expression -- that people unconsciously display when
they are hiding an emotion. They are quick & intense expressions of concealed emotion.
The main points to remember are that micro expressions are:
Brief - Micro-expressions can appear then disappear off the face in a fraction of a second. In other words
micro-expressions occur so quickly, that most people don't even notice them.

Involuntary - A micro-expression is caused by involuntary

movements in facial muscles. (See the fake-smile illustration ). Most people cannot control these involuntary
muscles which are affected by their emotions.
Micro Expressions are generally grouped into seven universal emotions: anger, disgust, fear, sadness,
happiness, surprise, and contempt.
A Brief History of Micro Expression Theory
According to Wikipedia - Micro Expressions were first discovered by Haggard and Isaacs in the 1960s. In 1966,
Haggard and Isaacs outlined how they discovered these "micromomentary" expressions published under the
title: "Micromomentary facial expressions as indicators of ego mechanisms in psychotherapy".
 Although it is not included in most histories of micro expressions; I would like to
point out that Darwin's book "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals" published in 1872
deserves a mention. Darwin noted the universal nature of facial expressions, the muscles used in facial
expressions, etc. Check out more illustrations from Darwin's book . Also worth noting is Guillaume
Duchenne and the Duchenne Smile.
Most websites I can find next list William Condon as a pioneer who studied hours of tapes in the 1960s frame
by frame to discover micro movements like micro expressions. I can find little info on this research but there is
some other interesting body language & verbal expression / NLP research by a Dr. William S. Condon (I'm
99% sure it's the same dude - contact me if you have any info on the 1960s micro expression research by
Condon as cited on wikipedia). Others mentioned as pioneering researchers in the field include John Gottman
and Paul Eckman.
Dr. Paul Ekman's research (along with the work of Silvan Tomkins ) in the study of emotions and their
relation to facial expressions took Darwin's work to the next level proving that facial expressions of emotion
are not culturally determined, but biological in origin and universal across human cultures. Eckman co-
developed the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) with Wallace V. Friesen in 1976. FACS is a system to
taxonomize human facial expressions, and still used today by psychologists, researchers and animators.
Dr. Ekman has published many books on emotions, facial expressions and lie detection including Unmasking
the Face: A Guide to Recognizing Emotions From Facial Expressions and Telling Lies: Clues to Deceit in the
Marketplace, Politics, and Marriage.
Micro-Expressions and Lying
Micro Expressions betray us when we lie. We can try to cover our feelings with fake smiles, but involuntary
face muscles reveal this hidden emotions. Seeing is easier, watch this short video:
(More Micro Expression Video Links Below)
Paul Ekman and his research is the inspiration for the TV series "Lie to Me" .
Trained investigators, customs agents, etc. use micro expression recognition along with other body language &
speech cues (see distancing language for an example) to determine truthfulness.
While most people can be trained to recognize micro expressions and other deceptive cues, some folks are
naturals. Ekman calls them "Truth Wizards" .
Latest Micro Expression Research & Training
Dr. Paul Ekman and Dr. David Matsumoto created METT, an online micro expression training tool. METT and
METT2 are being discontinued, but both Ekman and Matsumoto have developed their own micro expression
training software available on their respective sites. (listed below).
Dr. Mark Frank, a former student of Ekman's, continues work on deception and micro facial movement
research. Frank identified specific and sometimes involuntary movements of the 44 human facial muscles
linked to fear, distrust, stress and other emotions related to deception. Frank's work is being tested for it's use
in anti-terrorism investigations. (see press release )
My Opinion
Another important thing to remember about micro-expressions is that they only show what someone is
feeling...not whether they lying per-se, and not what they are thinking. The micro-expression only tells you
their knee-jerk emotional state. (in my opinion).
I believe (with no proof or scientific basis) that micro-expressions can also reveal emotions that are
unconscious or only partially related to whatever is being talk about.
In other words, just because someone says "that's awesome!" and flashes a brief micro-expression of
contempt ... doesn't necessarily mean they are lying about their feelings.... just that there is something about
the subject that "bugs" them (and they may not even know it bothers them).
So, you show your friend Sarah a picture of your new dog. She looks at you and says "wow, really cute", but
you catch a micro-expression glimpse of "disgust". I believe it would be presumptuous to take this as a sign
that Sarah thinks your puppy is ugly. She may have been bit by a dog in the past, and that emotion briefly
flashed across her face when she looked at the pic of your dog.
( I'm just cautioning readers who can see micro-expressions from simplifying and presuming too much --
human thoughts and emotions are complicated! )

Detecting Deception Using Statement Analysis®

How People's Words Betray Them

By Mark McClish - StatementAnalysis.com

Introduction by Blifaloo: I am super excited to introduce my readers interested in lie detection to "Statement
Analysis®" -- a technique used by police and other investigators to determine the truthfulness of written or
spoken words.
Guest author Mark McClish is a well-respected retired Deputy United States Marshal, and an expert in
interviewing techniques. You'll find more info & links about his research at the end of this article.
Intro to Statement Analysis
Statement Analysis is the process of analyzing a person’s words to determine if the subject is being truthful or
deceptive. The reason these techniques work is because people’s words will betray them.
There are usually several ways you can phrase a statement. People will always word their statement based on
all their knowledge. Therefore, their statement may include information they did not intend to share.
It is nearly impossible to give a lengthy deceptive statement without revealing it is a lie.

The Statement Analysis techniques are very accurate because they are based on the English language
specifically word definitions and the rules of grammar. For example, when a person states, “I am trying to be
honest” he is telling us he is not being honest. The word “tried” means he is only attempting to be truthful.
When a rape victim uses the pronoun “we” in her statement she is revealing she is being deceptive. The
pronoun “we” not only shows plurality but it also means a partnership was formed. We would not expect a
rape victim to partner up with her attacker. When a person uses phrases such as “later on” or “afterwards” he
has withheld some information by skipping over something in his story.
An example of utilizing the rules of grammar would be to analyze the verb tenses in a statement. When a
person is telling us what happened, he is required to speak in the past tense. Therefore, if present tense
language appears in his statement, this is a sign he is making up the story. Consider the following statement:
“I was sitting in my car when a man opened my door,
pointed a gun at me and tells me to get out.”
While the person starts out using past tense language, he switches to present tense language with the word
“tells.” The present tense language is an indication he is not drawing his story from memory.
Another example of using the rules of grammar to detect deception is how a person uses articles within his
statement. When we introduce someone or something that is unknown, we are required to use the indefinite
articles “a” or “an.” Once the introduction has been made, we then use the definite article “the.” We see this
in the following statement:
“A man approached me and pointed a gun at me.
He stuck the gun in my ribs and forced me into the car.”

In the first sentence, the victim properly refers to the attacker and the weapon as “a man”
and “a gun.” Having identified the gun, he then correctly refers to it as “the gun” in the second sentence. A
problem arises when he refers to the vehicle as “the car.” Since this is the first time he mentions the vehicle,
he should have called it “a car.” Using the article “the” tells us the victim either recognized the car or he is
making up the story.

Many times the truth goes unnoticed because people like to interpret what a person has said. However, you
should never interpret. First, one cannot read someone else’s mind. Secondly, people mean exactly what they
are saying.
We see a good example of this with O.J. Simpson’s so called suicide letter. This was the letter that was
discovered when Simpson failed to turn himself into the police. The letter starts out saying, “First everyone
understand, I had nothing to do with Nicole’s murder.” That is how you heard it read on television. That is how
you saw it printed in the newspapers and magazines. The problem is that is not what Simpson wrote. In his
letter, he crossed out the words “I had.” His letter actually reads, “First everyone understand, nothing to do
with Nicole’s murder.”
He took himself out of the denial.
So, why do most people include the words “I had?” Most likely because they believe this is what Simpson
meant. However, people mean exactly what they say or in this case write. Simpson meant to cross out those
words.

By using the Statement Analysis techniques, you can determine exactly what people are telling you. This
allows you to obtain additional information that sometimes goes unnoticed. These techniques will also show
you if they are lying or telling the truth.
http://www.statementanalysis.com/onlinetraining/

Unique Words: "Never"

Detecting Deception Using Statement Analysis®

By Mark McClish - StatementAnalysis.com

Introduction by Blifaloo:
Guest author Mark McClish is a retired Deputy United States Marshal, and an expert in detecting deception
with his interviewing techniques.
Unique Words – “Never”
When analyzing a statement, there are several unique words that can provide you with additional information
and show you if the subject is being deceptive. Some of these words are unique based on their definition,
while others are unique based on years of observations.

The word “never” is often used by deceptive people when making a denial. This is because people do not want
to lie. Therefore, they will choose the easiest form of deception. It is easier for a person to be dishonest using
the word “never” as opposed to directly telling a lie by saying “I didn’t do it.” For example, if a person was
asked if he took the money he may state, “I would never do that.” In addition to recognizing the use the word
“never,” we also see the person did not deny the action. He did not say he did not take the money. He only
stated this is something he would in no way do.

The word “never” means “not ever.” If a person was asked if he “ever” cheated on his taxes, it would be
appropriate for him to respond, “I have never cheated on my taxes.” The use of the word “never” would be
correct since he was asked if he “ever” defrauded the government. He is replying that he has “not ever”
cheated.

The word “never” does not mean “no.” Therefore, you cannot substitute the word “never” for the word “no”
which is something deceptive people like to do. Consider the following question and answer:

Question: “Did you sell him drugs?”

Answer: “I never sold drugs.”

Because the word “never” is a negative word, it sometimes fools the interviewer into believing the subject has
answered the question and denied the accusation. This question requires a “yes” or “no” answer. The subject
chose to answer the question using the word “never” instead of using the word “no.” This shows us the
subject is most likely being deceptive. Although he gave an answer, he did not answer the specific question.
He did not state, “No, I did not sell him drugs.”

We see a similar use of the word “never” with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. In March of 2006,
she was asked about the possibility of her running for President.

Question: “Would you consider running for President in 2008?”

Rice: “I have never wanted to run for anything. I don’t think I even ran for class
anything when I was in school.”

Rice used the word “never” as a substitute for the word “no.” She is not necessarily being deceptive but is
giving a good political answer. If she were to have said “no,” that would probably end any Presidential dreams
she may have had. If she would have answered the question with a “yes,” that would have caused a firestorm
amongst the press. So, she chose to remain in the middle of the road. She gave an answer that sounded like
she was saying “no” but in reality she did not say “no.” Her answer tells us that part of her wanted to run for
President.

John Connolly is a former FBI agent who in the 1970s developed Boston Irish mobster James “Whitey” Bulger
into an informant. Bulger was a valuable asset in helping the FBI dismantle the Italian Mafia in the Boston
area. Connolly retired from the FBI in 1990. With Connolly gone, the FBI stopped using Bulger as an informant
and instead turned their attention to his illegal activities. Their investigation uncovered that over the years
Connolly had accepted bribes from Bulger and falsified reports about Bulger. In 1999, Connolly was indicted
on these charges. That same year, Dateline NBC profiled John Connolly’s case. Correspondent Dennis Murphy
asked Connolly the following questions:

Murphy: “Did you go too far over the line?”

Connolly: “Anyone in my business, that knows what they’re doing, knows enough to
walk up to that line but to never step over it.”
Murphy: “And you didn’t?”
Connolly: “I never stepped over that line.”

In the first answer, Connolly states that “anyone” in his business knows not to cross that line. The problem is
he did not tell us that he did not cross that line. In his second answer, Connolly clearly uses the word “never”
as a substitute for the word “no.” In 2002, Connolly was convicted of racketeering, obstruction of justice and
lying to an FBI agent. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The use of the word “never” does not automatically mean a person is being deceptive. There are correct ways
one can use the word. For example, I can state, “I have never been skydiving” because it is a truthful
statement. However, if a person uses the word “never” as a substitute for the word “no,” it is a strong
indication the person is withholding information and possibly being deceptive.

Unique Words: "Actually"

Detecting Deception Using Statement Analysis®
By Mark McClish - StatementAnalysis.com
Introduction by Blifaloo:
Guest author Mark McClish is a retired Deputy United States Marshal, and an expert in detecting deception
with his interviewing techniques. This is the 3rd article Mark has contributed to Blifaloo.com
If you haven't read our intro to Statement Analysis for Lie Detection, please read that first.
Unique Words – “Actually”
When analyzing a statement, there are several unique words that can provide you with additional information
and show you if the subject is being deceptive. Some of these words are unique based on their definition while
others are unique based on years of observations.

When people use the word “actually” they are comparing two thoughts. Take a look at the following question
and answer:

Question: “Did you buy a new car?”

Answer: “Actually, I bought a new truck.”

In this example, it is easy to see why the subject used the word “actually.” The interviewer suggested that
perhaps the subject bought a new car. The subject answered that he did not buy a new car but bought a new
truck. He was comparing “car” with “truck.”

When the interviewer has not proffered anything and the subject uses the word “actually” we then have some
undisclosed information. I once asked a friend the following question:

Question: “What did you do over the weekend?”

Answer: “Actually, I went to a birthday party.”

By using the word “actually,” my friend was comparing going to the party with something else. Since I didn’t
suggest anything she may have done, this meant she was thinking about something else that she did or
wanted to do. Upon hearing the word “actually,” I asked her what she wanted to do. She told me that she
wanted to go shopping but then she remembered she had a birthday party to attend. Because she was
thinking about going shopping, it caused her to unknowingly use the word “actually.”

In Statement Analysis, the shortest sentence is the best sentence. Extra words give us extra information. “I
went to a birthday party” is a good answer. “Actually, I went to a birthday party” means something else was
going on. If a burglary suspect uses the word “actually” in his alibi, the police should take a closer look at him.

Police: “What did you do last night?”

Suspect: “Actually, I was at the movies.”

The word “actually” tells us he probably was not at the movies but was doing something else. He knows he
committed the crime but he wants to lie and say he was at the movies. Because he is thinking about these two
thoughts it causes him to use the word “actually.”

We find the word “actually” in a statement given by Casey Anthony who is currently on trial for the murder of
her daughter Caylee. On July 15, 2008, Cindy Anthony, Casey's mother, called 911 to report that her
granddaughter, Caylee, was missing. While on the phone, the 911 operator asked to speak to Casey.

911: “And you know who has her?”

Casey: “I know who has her. I’ve tried to contact her. I actually received a phone call today. Now
from a number that is no longer in service. I did get to speak to my daughter for about a moment; about a
minute.”

In stating that she talked to her daughter on the phone, Casey tells the 911 operator, “I actually received a
phone call today.” By using the word “actually,” Casey is comparing receiving a phone call with what? Not
receiving a phone call? There is no reason to use the word “actually” unless she is thinking about something
else. She uses this word to make her statement sound believable but instead it indicates she is being
deceptive. When we look at the rest of her statement we see she states she knows who has Caylee but she
does not give the 911 operator the name of this person. She says that she received a phone call but does not
say who called her. The number that called her is disconnected the very same day.

At her trial, her attorney stated that Caylee accidentally drowned in the family pool. This means Casey was
lying when she said she received a phone call in which she spoke to her daughter. Anyone who was listening to
what she was saying almost three years ago would have known she was lying.

Listen for the word “actually.” Most of the time you will be able to see what the person is comparing; “Is you
car blue?” “Actually, it is red.” When you cannot see the comparison, you then have some undisclosed
information. You may want to find out what information the person is withholding.

Why People Lie - and The Psychology of Lying

What Motivates Lying - Research, Statistics and Resources
In previous articles we have discussed various techniques for detecting lies.
But, what motivates people to lie?
 Psychologist Robert Feldman cites self-esteem as one of the
biggest culprits in our lying ways: "We find that as soon as people feel that their self-esteem is threatened,
they immediately begin to lie at higher levels."
Feldman believes many lies are simply for the purpose of maintaining social contacts by avoiding insults or
discord.
Small lies that avoid conflict are probably the most common sort of lie...and avoiding conflict is a top
motivator for deception.
For example: someone lying about traffic holding them up, rather than sleeping in... or a "no, you look great in
those pants" -- both sorts of lies achieve the effect of avoiding social conflict. They are "make life easier" kinds
of lies.
Back to the self-esteem angle:
The farther one's true self is from their ideal self, the more likely they are to lie to boost themselves up, in
others' eyes or their eyes... or perhaps how they perceive others to perceive them. Hmmm... that is a hard
train of thought to follow, but lying is a complex phenomenon.
How often do people lie?
One study, published in the Journal of Basic and Applied Psychology, found that 60 percent of people had lied
at least once during a 10 conversation between two strangers. On average, the subjects lied almost 3 times in
a 10 minute conversation.
Another study of 2000 Britons claims men tell six lies a day with women averaging 3 lies a day. The same
research found the most common lie (told by both sexes) being "Nothing's wrong, I'm fine." A similar study
found similar conclusions.
In the United States, one study had 77 college students plus 70 community members keep a diary detailing
their deceptions. The students admitted to lying an average of twice a day, while the community members lied
about once per day. More statistics from this study here.

How to Detect Micro Expressions

By eHow Contributor



 Print this article
 Detect Micro Expressions
Do you ever wonder what someone is really feeling or thinking when they tell you one thing? Do you
sometimes wonder if your being told the truth? The human face of capable of making over 50,000 different
individual expressions, but it all boils down to only 7 different combination that form the expressions we all
know: Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, Fear, Surprise and Contempt. These are called micro-expressions
and last less than a second. Learn to spot micro-expressions and gain the key to understanding the real
feelings behind the face. This how-to will cover the basics of spotting the seven micro-expressions.
Related Searches:
 Location Micro HF
 Creation Micro Entreprise
Difficulty:
Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
 Nothing
1.
o 1
Know what to look for! Spotting microexpressions can be difficult. There is small percentage of people in the
world who can naturally pick up on microexpressions, sometimes, they don't even know they can. You may be
one of these people if you 1) Can always spot a lie, 2) Know who someone is with out really getting to know
them, 3) Can accurately predict motive, 4) Don't trust people and don't have a very good reason for why.
Don't worry though, if your not a natural, you can learn. I seem to have been a natural for most of my life, but
I never knew what micro-expressions were until recently, then things all started to make sense.
Anywho, when looking for microexpressions, focus on the subject's face. Most muscle activity during a
microexpression will occur around the eyes and mouth. Stay sharp though, the thing that makes a
microexpression micro is the duration. Most microexpressions last an average of 1/25th of a second to 1 full
second.
In the next 7 steps, I will walk you through each of the seven microexpressions. And then I will give advice on
learning and practicing microexpression detection.
o 2

Crows Feet
Happiness. We all know that when someone smiles they are happy. But it isn't to difficult to "fake" being
happy. This can occur when someone is saying something you don't agree with or don't like and you pretend
to think its funny or good. There are numerous other cases when someone will pretend to be happy. Other
times, someone may flash a sign of being happy when they shouldn't be. This will often be the case when
someone is proud of something they are being scolded or reprimanded for. Often times when a serial killer is
 asked about their crimes in jail, they will flash a quick microexpression for happiness because they are proud
of what they've done.
The key attribute of happiness is, yes, the smile. But is isn't just any smile. In true happiness you will see the
corners of the lips turn up and the cheeks will raise slightly. But the tell tale sign of true happiness are the
crow's-feet that appear at the corners of the eyes. If you don't see movement from the muscles around the
eyes or crows-feet, the smile is a fake.
o 3

Sadness
Sadness. Most of us can tell when someone is feeling a bit blue. But there are times when it's very important
to know someone is truly sad, even if they swear up and down they are fine. Many people who really want to
end their lives will appear very happy just before letting go. But you can always catch that hint of sorrow
behind their front. On a happier note, many people will pretend to be happy when they are not because they
don't want to bring others down. They really want to talk to someone about it, but will never admit it, being
able to spot their sadness can be a helpful hint that they could use a good conversation.
In sadness the upper eyelids and outer edges of eyebrows will droop. The subject will appear to have very
little focus in their eyes. Also, the corners of the lips will be pulled slightly down.
o 4

Anger
Anger. Anger is usually pretty easy to spot. But sometimes there lies anger hidden beneath the surface and it
good to be able to spot this incase someone is about ready to snap.
Anger's microexpression consists of the lips being narrowed and pressed together tightly. You will also see the
eyebrows slanted down and towards the nose. And perhaps the most revealing characteristic of anger; glaring.
The subjects eyes will glare intensely.
o 5

Contempt
Contempt. Contempt is my favorite microexpression, and coincidentally it's the easiest to spot. Interestingly, it
is the only microexpression that is unilateral, that is, the only one that is biased to one side of the face. All
other microexpressions are equally distributed across the face about a vertical center-line.
The dead giveaway to contempt is the raising of one side of the lips. It can be very subtle and even look like
just a twitch. Occasionally the lip raise is paired with the head tilting back slightly so that the subject can look
down slightly at the focus of their contempt.
o 6

Disgust
Disgust. This is another one of those indicators that someone does not like what you are talking about, or very
much disagrees with something you have done or believe. Also, if you have secretly passed a bit of gas, it is a
good indicator that someone knows you have as it seems to be a instinctual response that Darwin suggested
closes off the nasal passages.
 Disgust is characterized by the upper lip being raised generally exposing the teeth. This will be coupled with a
wrinkling of the nose.
o 7

Fear
Fear. Fear is feeling we all know. Wether someone makes us uneasy, we are in a situation we don't like, or we
are watching a scary movie, we show the expression for fear.
In fear you will see the lips stretched horizontally towards the ears. The lower eyelids will be tensed and the
upper eyelids will be raised. You will also notice the eyebrows being raised and pushed together.
o 8

Surprise
Surprise. This is a very important micro-expression. It can be used to help in the lie detection process. If you
accuse someone of something, and they seem surprised, it could be the that your accusation is incorrect.
However, it is easy to fake surprise, but what people don't know is that faked surprise is easily recognizable.
Surprise can be spotted by widened eyes and raised eyebrows. Also the mouth will open a little bit.
Note that in a true expression of surprise the eyebrows will be raised for less than a second. So if someone is
acting surprised, but leaves their eyebrows lifted for more than a second, they are lying, no questions asked.
o 9
Learning micro-expressions. Learning micro-expressions can take time. But, one of the best ways to learn
them is to just read and read. Pictures and videos are also a great tool. Fox has a TV show called Lie To Me,
most people think it is just TV, but I did a bit of research and the show is based of a real person named Dr.
Eckman who was the pioneer researcher in microexpressions. The information in the show is true and they
have a scientific adviser that helps them stay true to the facts. I've noticed that watching it has greatly
improved my ability to spot microexpressions.
One of the things you will hear over and over again from people who train in microexpression detection is to
learn to make the faces yourself. Find pictures of the expressions, and then get in front of your mirror and
mimmic them. The muscle memory of the expressions will your brain recognize them.
There are a few tests that I've found helpful in testing the effectiveness of my training. Also, the tests can be
used as a training tool by learning from your mistakes. You can find a practice test created by Dr. Eckman
himself at www.mettonline.com. I will post this in the related links section. Another one that is a little more
fun and focuses more on lying are the Lightman Tests on Fox's Lie to Me website. I will post this link as a
related link as well.
The last training tip I can offer is to not be afraid to practice. When you are practicing, make sure its with
someone you know well and who won't get mad at you. Also, it might be a good idea to ask them if you can
use them as practice. Don't sit down and have a "practice session", instead inform them you plan to use them
as a test subject at random, and then sometime later, when you spot a micro expression ask them if you are
correct. Until you are very comfortable with your abilities you should probably not use the micro expression
detection in any arguments or accusations.
Also, please note that Test 1 of the Lightman tests is pretty much useless, its just a quiz about lying statistics.
Test 2 is the best.
I hope this information has been helpful to you. Once you learn it, its not something you can make go away so
be careful, it's not always a blessing; you may learn things you didn't want to know. Use this information
responsibly.
 Read more: How to Detect Micro Expressions | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5311172_detect-micro-
expressions.html#ixzz1lh180x00

How to Detect a Liar Using Body Language

By eHow Contributor
updated September 01, 2011



 Print this article

Liar!
Liars reveal themselves in many ways, whether in personal relationships or in the workplace. Unconscious
communication patterns and body gestures can go against a habitual liar once they are detected. Getting
familiar with common body language signs of deceptive people can help you find that sometimes there's more
than meets the eye.
Related Searches:
 Pimsleur Approach Tagalog
 Body Language
Difficulty:
Moderate
Instructions
1.
o 1
Generally people who are lying will not look you in the eye, although very practiced liars may be able to tell
lies and do it with eye contact.
o 2
People who are lying may appear to be very stiff and still, with little to no animation.
o 3
When someone tells a lie, it may raise his blood pressure and cause him to become red in the face, neck or
chest.
o 4
The liar will often withdraw himself physically, crossing his arms or legs to hold himself in, or hiding his hands
under the desk or in his pockets.
o 5
Liars will usually touch their face or neck when fibbing.
o 6
 Liars might fake an emotion like happiness or sadness. The expression may be limited to their mouth, but will
not reach their eyes.
o 7
Look for twitches. When someone is lying they may have a physiological reaction such as an eye, lip or cheek
twitch. Other physiological reactions include sweating or fidgeting.

Read more: How to Detect a Liar Using Body Language | eHow.com

http://www.ehow.com/how_4469672_detect-liar-using-body-language.html#ixzz1lh1Wvugv

How to Detect a Lie

By David Kingsbury, eHow Contributor



 Print this article
Do you ever wonder if the person you are speaking with is being completely honest with you? Lover’s spats,
business meetings, car salesmen--life is full of moments when the truth is obscured by ulterior motives and
outright deceit. Although none of these tactics are foolproof, there are several ways to detect if someone may
be lying.
Related Searches:
 Spanish Language Class
 Italian Language Study
Difficulty:
Moderately Easy
Instructions
1.
o 1
Watch the eyes, for they are the windows to the soul. Liars will avoid making eye contact and their
mannerisms are usually stiff and rigid. Some experts contend that a person looks up when thinking about
information, down when considering their emotions, and to the side when skirting an issue through
deception.
o 2
Notice voice tone and inflection. When telling a lie, people tend to speak in extremes: either monotone or
with great energy. Overconfidence is as likely a tip-off as withdrawal. Whatever the case, the person’s words
should be appropriate to the situation. If they become defensive when answering a simple question or launch
into an unnecessary elaborate explanation, recognize this as a warning sign.
o 3
Pay attention when they dodge the issue. A liar may change the subject quickly or become overly interested in
the new topic if you do. Using humor and sarcasm are also common ways of being deceptive. Watch for
statements instead of direct answers to your questions. For example, if you ask, “Where is my car?” and they
say, “I never drive your car,” they’re merely dodging the question. Continue asking until you get a straight
answer.
o 4
Study their smile. A fake smile involves only the mouth, whereas a genuine smile engages a number of facial
muscles, including those of the eyes and cheeks. Expressions should match spoken words. Honest people
won’t frown while saying they want to spend the evening with you.
o 5
 Consider their mouth. To speak a lie, a liar will have to use their mouth. Subconsciously, this fact produces
anxiety that can cause the liar’s mouth to become dry and tense. Watch for unusual licking, swallowing or
pursing of the lips.

Read more: How to Detect a Lie | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2277496_detect-

lie.html#ixzz1lh1bNkli

How to Spot Liars by Their Eye Movements

By an eHow Contributor



 Print this article
You don't need a fancy machine to tell if someone's lying to you. All you need is a little bit of knowledge about
body language. Spotting liars by their eye movements is a skill that detectives and educators have perfected
over the years, and you can hold the power over others by following these easy steps. Your friends and loved
ones won't know how, but they'll be caught red-handed.
Related Searches:
 Learning Basic Chinese
 Pimsleur Turkish Language
Difficulty:
Moderately Challenging
Instructions
1.
o 1
Look the other person in the eye. Ideally, you should sit or stand directly in front of the person you're talking
to, so that you get a good view of her eyes. Try not to be too obvious by staring; simply make eye contact like
you would with any other person.
o 2
Stick to surface streets at first. Since everyone reacts differently, you should start off by asking simple
questions that the other person would answer truthfully. You can ask him what he had for lunch, for instance,
and pay attention to where his eyes move during his answer.
o 3
Move on to more difficult questions whose answers might be less straightforward--or possibly embarrassing--
and see if the other person's eyes move differently than before.
o 4
See the signs. Generally speaking, someone looks to the top left when answering a question if she's recalling a
memory. So she's probably telling the truth then. When she looks to the top right, however, she's accessing
the creative part of her brain, which means that she's probably making up a lie to tell you.

Read more: How to Spot Liars by Their Eye Movements | eHow.com

http://www.ehow.com/how_2271112_spot-liars-their-eye-movements.html#ixzz1lh1ihbQP

How to Spot a Liar

By braniac



 Print this article
 It's not human nature to detect lies, but we can learn how.
Humans are by nature, trusting - and prone to be fooled by more attractive, innocent-looking faces. Still,
humans are also by nature intelligent: and can learn a few tips to ensure they AREN'T fooled.
Related Searches:
 Pimsleur Greek Lesson
 Pimsleur Korean Review
Difficulty:
Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
 practice and patience
 observation and diligence
1.
o 1

Can you trust her? You want to, don't you?

First: be aware of your own bias. Pretty or handsome faces are likely to fool you into thinking the person is
more trustworthy. Con artists -- and dates -- that are attractive are psychologically more prone to convince
you they're telling the truth. Biologically, we are more predisposed to symmetry in nature. Overcome this bias.
Liars don't wear it on their face.
Be aware of your own motivations, too. Sometimes liars succeed because we want to believe what they say.
"Really? I can earn a million dollars at my poolside, just because you say so?"
or: "Honestly? You didn't come home last night because you were rescuing a family of puppies from drowning,
and it took you all that time to find them all good homes?"
Come ON.
o 2

Microsigns are not usually this obvious - but they're there. Pay attention.
Don't be fooled by the stereotypes. Not all liars blink, dart their eyes away from you, rub their noses, or shift
uncomfortably.
In fact, practiced liars DON'T. They'll give you a good, firm, look in the eye.
To get to know whether people are lying, pay attention to their mannerisms. Start now. Is this a person who
USUALLY rubs their nose, shifts uncomfortably, or darts their eyes? If so, when they are lying to you, they may
not. Pay attention to DIFFERENT behavior.
 What you will be looking for, in general, are what psychologists call "microsigns." They last less than a second,
but they indicate "inappropriate emotions."
Giveaways - very, very slight - that the person is telling one thing, but feeling another.
o 3
Only less than 15 of almost 20,000 people studied have a natural ability to detect these signals, and they
aren't all law enforcement officials. Look for a shrug in the middle of a positive statement, for instance, or a
sigh. Although some people are naturally good at it, with practice, this technique can be learned.
o 4

Liars who are telling you WAY more than you need to hear about their excuses are probably not
believable.
Some things to look for in a liar include either a lack of specific detail in a story or too much detail. Consider
the circumstances. For instance, often a liar has to make up a story on the spot. In that case, to ferret out the
lie, casually get the liar to repeat the story by asking questions. Details will muddy or be inconsistent. In the
case of too many specifics, this will be obvious, because the liar will be talking way too much.
o 5

For liars, it's not "all about me."

Liars also tend to use less "first-person" words, like "I" or "me" in their spoken and written speech, according
to one study that used language-analysis software.
o 6

World's Biggest Lie: "I'll call you."

Liars, it's been shown, find it easier to lie on the phone, perhaps because of the depersonalization -- no face-
to-face.
o 7
The main thing is to remember that while one does not want to lose one's faith in humankind, a little
skepticism goes a long way.

Read more: How to Spot a Liar | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2263145_spot-a-liar.html#ixzz1lh1q8asc

How to Detect a Lie by Sight

By Lars Tramilton, eHow Contributor
updated June 21, 2011



 Print this article
 Catch a liar in the act.
When you suspect that someone is not being truthful with you, it can be a very frustrating situation, especially
if you cannot prove it. Whether you are questioning a potentially unfaithful spouse or a deceptive co-worker,
it can be hard to decipher the truth. If you do not feel confident enough to confront a person on whether he is
telling you the truth, you can take matters into your own hands by identifying and looking out for telltale
indications that someone is fibbing to you.
Related Searches:
 Learning Language
 Language Tutor
Difficulty:
Moderate
Instructions
1.
o 1
Observe whether the person fidgets a lot. Excessive fidgeting and restless behavior usually indicates that a
person is uncomfortable. Some examples of fidgeting are toying with objects lying around, such as cell phones
or pens; playing with hair; smoothing out clothes and rubbing the face, particularly the nose and mouth.
o 2
Look out for defensive behavior patterns. When a person behaves in a manner that is too defensive and
protests a little too much, then it may be a sign that she is guilty and is overcompensating as a result. If a
person responds in a belligerent or hostile way when questioned, it also is a sign of defensiveness.
o 3
Listen closely to his voice. Vocal changes also can give away lies. If a person's overall pitch changes, it may be
because he is lying. For example, if he starts out speaking in a low and relaxed manner and his voice suddenly
changes to a higher pitch and sounds uncomfortable, it could be related to the fact that he is deceiving you.
Stuttering, stammering, talking too rapidly and mumbling also are all associated with lying.
o 4
Pay attention to body language. When a person is not telling the truth, she will not likely display relaxed and
comfortable body language. Seek out awkward body language signs, such as stiffness, looking away from the
other person, blinking a lot, avoidance of eye contact, looking up and elevated eyebrows.
o 5
Think about the person's attention to detail. One indication that a person is lying is insufficient detail in telling
a story, simply because the story isn't true. However, this also can go the other way. In some situations, liars
try to overcompensate by embellishing and giving too much detail instead. Be alert for signs of either too little
or too much detail.
o 6
 Note if he tries to change the subject. When a person doesn't want to discuss something, it is understandable
that he will want to quickly get away from the topic. If a person keeps trying to change the discussion or acts
relieved when the subject finally changes, it could be a sign that he is lying.
o 7
Look out for inconsistencies. If things that a person says do not match up, then that is a very telling sign of
lying. For example, if a person says that she went to the grocery store on Saturday night, but then it suddenly
changes to Sunday night, she probably is being dishonest.
o 8
Determine whether his words align with his facial expressions. For instance, if someone says something like "I
care about our relationship" but has a tight and angry look on his face, it may be a sign of lying.

Read more: How to Detect a Lie by Sight | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_8628698_detect-lie-

sight.html#ixzz1lh1tn4Lr

How to Spot a Lie in Five Simple Steps

By Christi Aldridge, eHow Contributor
updated June 25, 2011



 Print this article

Watch carefully for signs that you are being lied to.
You may suspect someone is lying, but it's hard to know for sure. If you think you are being worked over, there
are a few telltale ways to tell if someone isn't being entirely truthful. Check for all the signs before you try to
bust them in a lie. Of course, sometimes listening to your gut instincts is enough to tell you something isn't
right, so never discount your own intuition when confronting a liar.
Related Searches:
 Pimsleur Greek Lesson
 Pimsleur Korean Review
Difficulty:
Moderately Easy
Instructions
1.
o 1
Look into his eyes. A liar can't maintain direct eye contact for long while telling a blatant lie. He may shift his
gaze away from you or even look at the floor.
o 2
 Listen to her speech. Sometimes when someone is lying, their voice changes tone or pitch and her words may
even seem different or unusual from her normal speech or phrases.
o 3
Watch for storytelling. If he is lying and you ask him questions he doesn't know the answers to, it may take
him a second to formulate a story to tell you. This pause could be the sign he is lying. Also, liars generally don't
provide much detail so pressing for some extras to the story may cause a slip up.
o 4
See if she is stressed out. Sweating, pacing, blinking excessively, lifting shoulders up and down and fidgeting
are all common responses to being confronted with a lie. Someone that can't stand or sit still without acting
nervous is probably not telling the truth.
o 5
Watch for signs of anger. If she is telling the truth she may be impatient with you, but not angry. Liars will keep
insisting they are telling the truth and even begin to get mad when you don't believe them. This isn't a good
sign at all.

Read more: How to Spot a Lie in Five Simple Steps | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2100892_spot-
lie-five-simple-steps.html#ixzz1lh1wYFld

How to Spot a Compulsive Liar

By an eHow Contributor
updated April 21, 2011



 Print this article
Spot a Compulsive Liar
Compulsive liars are different from pathological liars or those who only lie periodically. There is often no
obvious reason for the lying, and different underlying motivations exist for compulsive liars than for other
types of liars. Certain warning signs can help you discern whether you are dealing with a compulsive liar, so
read on to learn what these are.
Related Searches:
 Bipolar Illness Symptoms
 Dog Symptoms
Difficulty:
Moderate
Instructions
1.
o 1
Notice how often the person seemingly lies. Compulsive liars lie on a regular and ongoing basis; it is a habit in
which they participate almost all the time.
o 2
Consider the apparent ease with which a person tells a lie. If they appear uncomfortable or nervous, then
chances are that they are not a compulsive liar. Lying comes naturally to a compulsive liar, who looks and feels
more comfortable lying than telling the truth.
o 3
Focus on the types of things that the person lies about. A compulsive liar often lies about anything and
everything, even small, seemingly insignificant things.
o 4
 Evaluate the motivation behind the person's lying. If the person seems to lie simply when it is beneficial for
them or when it gets them out of an awkward situation, they are probably not a compulsive liar. Someone
who is a compulsive liar generally lies because doing so is a habit and not because they are trying to
manipulate others.
o 5
Think about the person's personality characteristics to determine whether they fit the stereotype of a
compulsive liar. Often, compulsive liars begin this habit to get attention from others or to make themselves
appear better in some way, so a compulsive liar may have issues with poor self-esteem.
o 6
Examine whether a potential compulsive liar recognizes their behavior. Because lying is such an ingrained
habit for a compulsive liar, they may not even recognize that they are doing it, or they may deny the behavior.
o 7
Look at the person's ability to remain consistent in what they say. A compulsive liar may have a difficult time
keeping their stories straight since they have injected so many lies into what they have told other people.

Read more: How to Spot a Compulsive Liar | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2086429_spot-

compulsive-liar.html#ixzz1lh27qWOY

How do I Detect Lies Through Nonverbal

Communication?
By Julianne Russ, eHow Contributor



 Print this article

How to detect a lie

There are different ways to detect when a person is lying. Managers need these skills when interviewing a
potential employee. Police detectives watch for these nonverbal signs when interrogating a suspect. One
person can have a very hard time telling a lie, while another can be such an experienced liar that everyone
believes his stories. People often lie and do not even notice that they give away clues that betray their words.
Without using a lie detector, how can you know that the person is lying? These methods are not 100 percent
reliable but may help you avoid being deceived.
Related Searches:
 Pimsleur Greek Lesson
 Pimsleur Korean Review
Difficulty:
Moderately Easy
 Instructions
1.
o 1
Notice his movements. He may turn sideways or further away from you because he is uncomfortable and it's
not easy to lie to someone who's in close proximity, according to "Warning Signs," by Anthony DeLorenzo and
Dawn Ricci. When sitting across from you, a liar may place an object, a glass, for example, between you and
himself. If a person is fidgeting with his watch, clothing or jewelry, it is an indication that he is nervous and
hiding something.
o 2
Pay attention to gestures. A liar will be gesturing toward himself. A person who's not telling the truth is
unlikely to touch himself with an open hand in the chest area. It is common for a person who is lying to touch
his face. Remember Bill Clinton touching his nose while answering questions about the Monica Lewinski
scandal? A liar may pretend to cough or yawn and cover his mouth. Other gestures may include pulling a collar
or his earlobe, scratching his neck and rubbing his eyes.
o 3
Look closely at his face. According to Dr. Paul Ekman, a psychology professor at the University of California,
San Francisco, when a person is trying to conceal his true feelings, the real emotion will briefly flash across his
face and reveal how he feels about the subject. Pay attention to his eyes, mouth, eyebrows and forehead. If
he smiles, a real smile will engage many muscles: cheeks, eyes, mouth. A person who's lying will smile with his
lips slightly turned down. Sweating, blushing or turning pale are considered true signs of being untruthful.
o 4
Pay attention to the eyes. They say a liar will not make eye contact. However, it's been proven that liars often
do make eye contact to appear sincere. Eye movements can help you spot when a person is lying. If he is
looking to the left, he is thinking or trying to remember the details. If his eyes move to the right, he is not
being entirely truthful. It is the opposite for left-handed people. Rapid blinking is also an indication of lying.
o 5
Note the body language. Crossing legs and crossing arms is a sign that he is hiding something. It shows that he
is uncomfortable and is trying to protect himself from you. A liar will appear tense and rigid, as if to avoid
displaying any suspicious signs.

Read more: How do I Detect Lies Through Nonverbal Communication? | eHow.com

http://www.ehow.com/how_6861454_do-lies-through-nonverbal-communication_.html#ixzz1lh2BJc97

How to Spot a Lie

By braniac



 Print this article
 You don't need a lie detector to catch a lier.
If you're tired of being lied to by your kids, employees, spouse or whomever you could go out and buy a lie
detector. However, learning the tell-tale signs of liers everywhere is a much more effective, and subtle, way of
catching the perpetrator mid lie.
Related Searches:
 Italian Language Study
 Pimsleur Turkish Language
Difficulty:
Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
 Focus
 Keen eyesight
 Awareness of body language
 Person you believe is lying
1.
o 1
Observe the body language of your subject (a.k.a. the alleged lier). Look for a lack of natural body language,
such as hand movements. When telling lies people often touch their face and hold or scratch the backs of their
neck. These movements are typically accompanied by a tense facial expression.
o 2

Lack of eye contact may indicate lying.

Check to see if the person makes eye contact. Typically the person lying to you will not look you in the eye, but
those who have less to lose and do not mind foregoing your future trust may look you straight in the eye when
lying to you; loved ones will more often avoid eye contact.
o 3
Look for consistency between the person's words and their emotional state, if they are incongruous the
person is likely lying. Detecting inconsistency requires paying special attention to the pace of the person's
emotional reactions. When emotions appear forced, delayed or inconsistent the person may be lying. Also,
when emotions seem to follow verbalization (a delayed smile after your younger sister announces she's
eloping with the guy your whole family hates).
o 4

Botox hides natural truth indicators.

Identify which portions of the person's face move when they express emotion. Genuine emotion (non-lying)
extends beyond the mouth and involves your whole face, such as the eyes and forehead. If a person expresses
emotion using only their mouth, they are either lying or a Botox recipient.

Read more: How to Spot a Lie | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4782419_spot-a-lie.html#ixzz1lh2FEe85

Microexpressions Complicate Face Reading

Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 03 Aug 2007 - 20:00 PDT

email to a friend printer friendly opinions

Ads by Google
Pharma Trainings - Learn from topnotch experts! Take a look at our course calendar - www.CELforpharma.com

Psychology BA in Israel - Study in English. Scholarships Available! Enter for More Details - www.RRIS.IDC.ac.il/Psychology

The Mini-MBA Programme - The 12 module Mini-MBA on-line learning course for £1050 - www.falconburyonline.com

Current Article Ratings:

Patient / Public: 4.44 (16 votes)

Healthcare Prof: 3.8 (5 votes)
Article Opinions: 1 posts

Reading the face of a person who is trying to conceal fear or other emotions is a tricky business, according to a new
Northwestern University study of electrical activity in the brain.

Though such 'microexpressions' as a brief flash of fear are unlikely to be consciously noticed, they still get picked up by
the brain and make their way through the visual system. The effect can alter perception and the way other people are
treated or judged, the study concludes.

"Even though our study subjects were not aware that they were viewing subliminal emotional expressions, their brain
activity was altered within 200 milliseconds," said Ken Paller, co-investigator of the study and professor of psychology in
the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern. "As a result, the ratings of facial expressions they did see
were biased."

In other words, sometimes when it seems like you are acting on the vagaries of instinct, your brain is actually responding
to real information about others that bubbles just beneath your consciousness.

The study included tests to determine whether study volunteers had a tendency to experience anxiety, particularly in
social situations. Those who tended to be socially anxious had the strongest brain response to subliminal expressions of
fear.

"The findings have direct implications for understanding psychiatric disorders such as phobia, obsessive-compulsive
disorder and generalized anxiety disorder," said Wen Li, lead author of the study and postdoctoral fellow at
Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine.

"Neural and Behavioral Evidence for Affective Priming from Unconsciously Perceived Emotional Facial Expressions and
the Influence of Trait Anxiety," will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. Besides
Li and Paller, the study's co-authors include Stephan Boehm, currently at the University of Wales at Bangor, and Richard
Zinbarg, associate professor of psychology at Northwestern.
The study utilized neuroelectrical activity recorded from 64 EEG electrodes placed on the scalps of the volunteers to
monitor their brains' analyses of sensory input. Volunteers evaluated 70 different surprise faces. Half of the faces were
primed by fearful expressions and half by happy expressions. The prime faces -- with happy or fearful expressions --
were shown for 30 milliseconds immediately prior to each surprise face.

The expressions of surprise could be interpreted as positive (the sudden arrival of a friend) or as negative (a sudden
violent act). Each was rated as 'extremely positive,' 'moderately positive,' 'mildly positive,' 'mildly negative,' 'moderatel y
negative' or 'extremely negative.'

The volunteers rated the surprise faces primed by fear more negatively on average than those primed by happiness.

Results of the study revealed that the visual system differentially processed the fearful and happy faces, even though
this processing did not lead to conscious experiences.

"Environmental events that signal danger, such as someone's facial expression of fear, may be preferentially detected so
as to alert the individual to make an appropriate response," Paller said.

Yet participants only noticed the surprise faces. When asked about the stimuli, volunteers were surprised to learn that
prime faces with other expressions briefly appeared prior to the surprise faces.

"Our results show that an unconsciously perceived signal of threat, such as a brief facial expression of fear, can still
bubble up and unwittingly influence social judgments and how we act," said Li.

Those with a more anxious personality exhibited more biased negative evaluations of fear-primed surprise faces and
also greater brain-wave indications of threat processing. Greater brain responses to threat in those prone to anxiety may
thus lead to larger influences on social evaluation.

"Although people can do their best to avoid situations that they perceive as threatening, their brains may still be highly
attuned to subtle environmental signals of threat," Paller said. "A heightened sensitivity to subliminal threat may thus
cause excessive anxiety."

Microexpressions that people make may differ from voluntary expressions of emotion. But in either case, fear can be
signaled by contraction of muscles that raise the inner brow, the outer brow, the upper lid, plus stretching the lips,
parting the lips and dropping the jaw.

"The ability to detect microexpressions may allow an observer to be more empathetic and sense someone's true
intentions or motivation," said Paller. "Valuable as this ability may be, when someone is paying you a compliment it is
sometimes better to take it at face value rather than read more into it."

Eye Direction and Lying

Eye Movement and Direction & How it Can Reveal Truth or Lies
This is a continuation of our previous article Detecting Lies. Many comments by our visitors asked about how
eye direction can indicate the presence of a lie.
Can the direction a person's eyes reveal whether or not they are making a truthful statement? Short answer:
sort of. But, it isn't as simple as some recent television shows or movies make it seem.
In these shows a detective will deduce if a person is being untruthful simply because they looked to the left or
right while making a statement.
In reality, it would be foolish to make such a snap judgment without further investigation... but the technique
does have some merit.
So, here it is... read, ponder and test it on your friends and family to see how reliable it is for yourself.
Visual Accessing Cues
The first time "Visual Accessing Cues" were discussed (at least to my knowledge), was by Richard Bandler and
John Grinder in their book "Frogs into Princes: Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) " From their experiments
this is what they found.

When asked a question a "normally organized" right-handed person looks (from your viewpoint, looking at
them):

Up and to the Left

Indicates: Visually Constructed Images (Vc)
If you asked someone to "Imagine a purple buffalo", this would be the direction their
eyes moved in while thinking about the question as they "Visually Constructed" a
purple buffalo in their mind.

Up and to the Right

Indicates: Visually Remembered Images (Vr)
If you asked someone to "What color was the first house you lived in?", this would be the
direction their eyes moved in while thinking about the question as they "Visually
Remembered" the color of their childhood home.

To the Left
Indicates: Auditory Constructed (Ac)
If you asked someone to "Try and create the highest the sound of the pitch possible in
your head", this would be the direction their eyes moved in while thinking about the
question as they "Auditorily Constructed" this this sound that they have never heard of.

To the Right
Indicates: Auditory Remembered (Ar)
If you asked someone to "Remember what their mother's voice sounds like ", this would be
the direction their eyes moved in while thinking about the question as they "Auditorily
Remembered " this sound.
 Down and to the Left
Indicates: Feeling / Kinesthetic (F)
If you asked someone to "Can you remember the smell of a campfire? ", this would be
the direction their eyes moved in while thinking about the question as they used
recalled a smell, feeling, or taste.

Down and To the Right

Indicates: Internal Dialog (Ai)
This is the direction of someone eyes as they "talk to themselves".

The Gist of it...

How this information is used to detect lies:
Example: Let's say your child asks you for a cookie, and you ask: "Well, what did your mother
say?" As they reply "Mom said... yes.", they look to the left. This would indicate a made up answer as their
eyes are showing a "constructed image or sound. Looking to the right would indicated a "remembered" voice
or image, and thus would be telling the truth.
Final Notes:
*** Looking straight ahead or with eyes that are defocused/unmoving is also considered a sign of visual
accessing.
*** A typical left-handed person would have the opposite meanings for their eye-directions.
*** As with other signs of lying, you should first establish and understand a persons base-behavior before
concluding they are lying by the direction of their eyes.
*** Many critics believe the above is a bunch of bull***t. In my own experiments I have found these
techniques to be more true than not. But, why not find out for yourself? Make up a list of questions that like
the sample ones, and give them to your friends/family anyone who would be your guinea pig, observe their
eye movements and record the results.
 Happiness. The expression for happiness involves raising the lip corners, raising and wrinkling cheeks, and
narrowing eyelids, producing "crow's feet" (wrinkles in the corners of the eyes).
 Sadness. This expression features narrowed eyes, eyebrows brought together, a down-turned mouth, and a
pulling up or bunching of the chin.
 Fear. In fear, the mouth and eyes are open, eyebrows are raised and nostrils are sometimes flared.
 Anger. Anger involves lowered eyebrows, a wrinkled forehead, tensed eyelids and tensed lips.
 Disgust. A look of disgust includes nose scrunching, raising of the upper lip, downcast eyebrows and narrowed
eyes.
 Surprise. Surprise appears with a dropped jaw, relaxed lips and mouth, widened eyes and slightly raised
eyelids and eyebrows.
 Contempt. Contempt is notable for its raising of one side of the mouth into a sneer or smirk.

Reading Microexpressions: Why You Don't Like

Certain Smiles
Since many facial expressions and the emotions they represent are common to the entire human species, our
brains are wired to search for and interpret these facial cues. Likewise, when we feel something on an
emotional level, our faces have a peculiar habit of exhibiting an expression that matches the way we feel,
sometimes without our knowledge or without the desire to put our emotions on display across our faces.
This pesky trait can be quite revealing, even though an unintended expression may last only a fraction of a
second. These superfast expressions that suddenly appear in the middle of another -- sometimes opposite --
expression are microexpressions.
While we provide others with visual information about the way we feel through our expressions, other
information "leaks" out of our faces between or during these intentional expressions. Microexpressions can be
as brief as about 1/25 of a second [source: Ekman]. They occur so fast that they're often not perceived by the
conscious mind of either the expresser or the person observing the expression. As few as 10 percent of people
are even aware of seeing microexpressions when tested [source: Zetter].
Microexpressions can be much more accurate signs of a person's true feelings and intentions than the
expression he or she is consciously producing. The smiling salesman may flash a millisecond-long sneer of
contempt, or the fierce-looking man approaching you in the parking lot may have a sudden look of fear wash
across his face.
Even when we're consciously unaware of detecting a microexpression, it still influences our brain activity and
alters our perception of the expressions we do consciously see on another's face. So, if you see a "happy"
expression plain as day on someone's face and there were no microexpressions preceding it, you'll identify it
as happy. But if the "happy" expression is preceded by a sneering microexpression that you aren't even
conscious of detecting, you'll be more likely to describe that same "happy" face as "cunning" or
"untrustworthy." This may go a long way in explaining that uneasy feeling that leads you to walk away from
someone thinking, "I don't know what it is, but there's just something about that person …"
This subconscious processing can slip into overdrive. Studies have shown people with social anxieties have
more brain activity than normal when they subconsciously detect a "fear" microexpression. Since threatening
situations produce negative feelings for them, detecting signs of fear in other other people creates the same
anxious response [source: Tremmel]. Making matters more complicated, the expressions for "fear" and
"surprise" are very similar and often confused by observers.
Ekman shares his knowledge with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to help them better detect
suspicious behaviors or deceptions, such as a millisecond-long look of fear expressed by someone approaching
an airport security check. Ekman believes the ability to detect and interpret microexpressions can be improved
by studying changes in human faces using photographs or video.
Spotting terrorists in line at the airport is just one extreme use of the ability to detect microexpressions. It can
also benefit us in normal situations. When we misperceive microexpressions, we can make false assumptions
about the people with whom we communicate. This creates distance in our relationships, instead of increased
awareness. By tuning into microexpressions, we can improve our chances of seeing a big sign from a very fast
sign vehicle.
The Seven Universal Expressions
Microexpressions pop up extremely briefly, ranging from 1/5 to 1/25 of a second in length, so most people
don’t pick up on them without training. Ekman came up with seven standard expressions and their key
components to look for when trying to figure out how the person you’re speaking with really feels.

Raised lip corners and crinkled eyelids indicate that the person’s happy. Look for crow’s feet to indicate
whether a smile is genuine or not. True smiling, like all expressions, involve muscles beyond our control, so a
trained eye can tell the real from the fake simply by noting whether the muscles surrounding the eye socket
are in use.

Fear is often characterized by parted lips, wide-open eyes, and raised eyebrows that bunch together.
However, thinly-stretched lips on a closed mouth can also mean someone is nervous or scared about
something.

Anger’s not too hard to recognize—furrowed eyebrows, a frowning mouth, chin jutting out, and narrowed
eyes all suggest that the person’s mad.

Sad people also have downturned mouths, but also a wrinkled, wavering chin (think of what happens to it
when you’re trying not to cry), and a wrinkled, creased forehead.
Did you detect a slight sneer or did the side of his or her mouth raise a little? That could mean he or she’s
feeling contempt.

Surprise looks similar to fear, but the mouth and eyes are open a little wider and the eyebrows are raised
without being bunched up.

http://face-and-emotion.com/dataface/facs/manual/TOC.html traing from Eckman

http://www.amazon.com/What-Face-Reveals-Spontaneous-
Expression/dp/0195179641/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1290888121&sr=1-2
http://www.amazon.com/kindle/dp/B002NGO5IC