h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Dear fellow researchers,

I recommend this book:
The Naked Ape: A Zoologist's Study of the Human Animal

This professional believes that being stared at is considered a threat, hence the fear of public speaking being so common. As the audience is in a crowd, each individual member of the audience has no concern in staring at the speaker. In addition, this is where the expression comes from: staring someone down. Threatening someone.

Animals do this too. The best way to unnerve a dog or other wild animal is to stare at them (unblinkingly) and let him know he is being watched (and hunted).

There is a difference between looking at someone and staring at someone. Starring is not only unflinching but also unblinking and unmoving.

Dear Two Bit Trigger Pumping Moron,

How about micro-expressions? Has anybody heard of these and their particular effectiveness? They are difficult to spot and some training is needed to become able to spot them and translate them in normal people (real time).

Of course this doesn’t work with someone who doesn’t think he is lying but then again if he doesn’t know he is lying, can you call it lying.

Yours Hammer Head

I haven't heard of micro expressions. A person has to know that they're lying. If they're relating something that they believe to be true, they're giving you honestly believed flase information.

I can't really provide anything on NLP. The stuff I have has been in books published at the police academy.

What about eqvivocating? That would be when one tells a distortion of the truth, or is deliberatly vauge in order to decieve their listener. Does that count as lying, and are there body languages that go with it only? I've always found it easy to give something that is literally true, but lacking a few fine details. The truth, but not the whole truth.
Of course, I'm not saying that it's a good thing to do.
See what I mean?

That just calls for more specific questioning.

What about if the liar can convince themselves that what they are saying is the trth, in the span of time between the question and answer? Then do they show the 'lying signs?'

Eye contact is a solid basis of lying. My father used to say to me, "Look me in the eye" When i told him something. It is intimidating, solid and often cold. I learnt to counter this with an honest, heart melting look. He stopped doing it a while ago, but it gets answers.

sorry lisa the freak//poet by the toga,but you're wrong about the eye contact.
when you lie, you generally maintain eye contact with who ever you're lying to,because your subconcious is telling you that keeping eye contact makes your lie more believable.it doesn't if you know what to look out for.
also,when you tell the truth,especially with something you're trying to remember,your eyes will flicker to a certain place as you recall whatever it is you're attempting to think of.it may only be briefly,but it certainly happens.
moofish2

Thats ur true things... but some times i am not able to make eye contact .. it does not mean that i am not honest.. i am shy person.. but can u tell me how to handle it....

I'd be weird to analyze someone while jogging. It may be difficult. People are more alike than you know,...

Not keeping eye contact doesn't always mean that you are lying. It is unfortunately a common misconception. That's why I am actually extremely careful when someone makes a statement and keeps strong eye contact - with eyes wide open: they are actually lying. Their staring is also a way to see if you believe their lie.

I agree, this is why I usually don't lie. I feel bad and feel heavy weight on my shoulders when I do. But when I do lie, I know how to hide it.