10 Ways To Tell Someone's Lying To You, Says Behavioral Therapists

People lie all the time. They tell small lies to their boss, to a casual friend, and even to themselves. They tell bigger lies to get themselves out of trouble or to avoid conflict. We all try to be honest, but sometimes it seems as if it's crucial to lie.

There are times that people tell tall tales in order to seem more interesting, and when questioned about the validity of their story they become defensive and hostile.

Lies can cause serious damage, like when you're scammed in business, cheated out of money, betrayed by a loved one, or cheated on by a spouse. Lies can destroy a relationship, or if doesn't totally obliterate the relationship it can wreck the trust that was once there.

Unfortunately, we can't always tell the difference between someone not being honest and someone telling a huge, life-changing whopper of a lie. For the most part, we want to give people the benefit of the doubt as we do'’t want to think of them as liars and cheats, and when we discover the truth, it can be heartbreaking.

In an article on Business Insider, they discuss how, when someone is lying to you, they indicate they're lying through certain types of body language.

Dr. Lillian Glass is a behavioral analyst and body language expert. Dr. Glass has worked closely with the FBI on identifying signals of deception. She says that in order to know if someone is lying to you, you need to be familiar with their behavior when they're not lying. Then you'll want to observe their facial expressions, body language, speech patterns, and even their online writing patterns.

In her book The Body Language of Liars, Dr. Glass gives some hints on how to uncover the signs of deception, from bluffing to flat-out fraud.

1. Their head position changes.

woman whose head position changes as a sign of deception VesnaArt / Shutterstock

One of the major tells of lying is when the person suddenly changes the position of their head when you ask them a question directly.

"The head will be retracted or jerked back, bowed down, or cocked or tilted to the side," says Dr. Glass.

2. Their breathing changes.

man whose breathing changes as a sign of deception Prostock-studio / Shutterstock

When someone is nervous and lying to you, they start breathing heavily. It's a reflex action and their voice may become shallow.

"They are out of breath because their heart rate and blood flow change," says Dr. Glass. "Your body experiences these types of changes when you're nervous and feeling tense."

3. They stand rigidly still.

woman who is standing rigidly still as a sign of deception New Africa / Shutterstock

We've all seen the way the nervous person is portrayed on TV and movies as being very fidgety. But don't overlook those people who stand scarily still, as someone in a rigid stance is a major red flag.

4. They repeat words and phrases.

woman who repeats words and phrases as a sign of deception Mladen Mitrinovic / Shutterstock

When someone is repeating words and phrases, they're trying to buy some time to gather their thoughts. They're working hard to try to convince you, and themselves, that what they're saying is the truth.

5. They touch or cover their mouth.

woman who covers her mouth as a sign of deception PeopleImages / Shutterstock

The liar isn't aware that when they lie they often touch or cover their mouth. It's a way to avoid answering a question.

6. They instinctively cover vulnerable body parts.

man who is covering vulnerable body parts as a sign of deception Drazen Zigic / Shutterstock

When someone subconsciously covers the vulnerable places on their body — such as their throat, chest, head, and stomach — it's an indication that they're lying.

7. They point a lot.

woman who points a lot as a sign of deception Bangkok Click Studio / Shutterstock

They tend to become defensive when they think you're onto them, which results in a great deal of pointing.

8. They give way too much information.

woman who is giving way too much information as a sign of deception ArtMari / Shutterstock

A person who isn't telling the truth will often give an excess of details.

"Liars often talk a lot because they are hoping that, with all their talking and seeming openness, others will believe them," says Dr. Glass.

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9. They find it difficult to speak.

man who finds it difficult to speak as a sign of deception Kmpzzz / Shutterstock

When liars find it difficult to speak, it's not because their lies are hot and uncomfortable to say — it's because when we're stressed and lying, our mouths get dry. Be alert for sudden lip-biting and pursed lips.

10. They stare without blinking much.

woman who stares without blinking much as a sign of deception Miljan Zivkovic / Shutterstock

Liars believe that if they can maintain eye contact with you, you'll believe they're telling the truth, so they overcompensate with staring and less blinking.

"When people tell the truth, most will occasionally shift their eyes around and may even look away from time to time," says Dr. Glass. "Liars, on the other hand, will use a cold, steady gaze to intimidate and control."

Christine Schoenwald is a writer and performer whose work has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, Salon, and Woman's Day. Visit her website or follow her on Instagram.