Last month you were introduced to deception detection expert Pamela Meyer who is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and an expert and leader in the field of detecting physical, verbal and written deception patterns. Her research has found that trained “liespotters” can identify falsehoods over 90% of the time vs the untrained who will uncover lies approximately 50% of the time.
When engaged in a conversation, whether a formal deposition, statement under oath, interview or an informal, casual conversation, pay attention to what is articulated and the following potential red flags:
- Is too much detail being presented unnecessarily and/or in irrelevant places?
- Is there too much repetition or too many unnecessary remarks being made? Is the speaker repeating a question unnecessarily?
- Is there extraordinary emphasis in speech with a pattern of staring and/or other exaggerated body movements such as head nodding or shaking?
- What is being said when eye contact is broken, when an exaggerated or fake smile occurs or when some other aberrant body movement takes place?
- When a significant piece of information is presented, and it is preceeded or followed with certain qualifying language like “believe me” or “in all candor” or “that’s the truth,” pay attention to how that information fits the overall statement or argument.
- Question what is being said when the speaker lowers or raises his/her voice.
Any one of the foregoing speech patterns could be an indication of an untruth, and, unfortunately, most of us run across one or more of them every day. In fact, Pamela Meyer believes that we are living in a time of a “deception epidemic.” Her studies have found that most people lie up to 200 times/day. Many of these lies are benign; for instance, some might be communicated to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.Other times, the lies are intentional; they are communicated for unfair, unethical and/or illegal gain…frequently monitary. Check back next month when we discuss other methods of lying and how to spot them.
Research North, Inc. (RNI), is a professional private detective service providing support to the business community, the insurance industry and individuals in Michigan and Wisconsin since 1981. The company also offers pre-employment background checks to small and medium sized businesses through a subsidiary called Backgroundcheckswork.com that is fully staffed by professional investigators who are retired from law enforcement.
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