LIAR, LIAR

The greatest driving force of the human person is his desire to survive. He will do anything in order to conquer any threat to his well-being. He will defy anything that rubs against his instinct for self-preservation. He will find creative methods of coping, to keep out of harm’s way.

One of the most common manifestations of man’s survival instinct can be seen in the many ways he manipulates the truth in order to protect or promote his self-interests. Some people have so mastered the art of thwarting the truth that even professionals trained in lie detection sometimes find it hard to recognize when these people are not telling the truth. 

Recently, the nation cringed at the bold accusations of a senator against a former president. We all had our own personal suspicions of excesses committed by the past top official. But, still, we shuddered to hear it coming straight from someone who had served under him, in fact, someone who was unarguably one of his most trusted men.  

The accused party reacted with a countercharge on his accuser. He questioned the guy’s motive and, furthermore, put the guy’s character in question. The retaliatory action didn’t surprise us, though. We know that any person will try to do anything to shield himself from damage. And this applies to both of the parties involved. 

It is difficult, at this point, to tell which one is telling the truth, difficult to distinguish genuine revelation from fabrication. There may be some truth in the accusations and counteraccusations. But then again, saying half-truths is only a creative way of telling half-lies.

In our Psychology class back in college, we were taught that there are observable basic signals that show when people intentionally make false statements or, at least, statements that are not wholly true. Such signals often appear without the liar being aware of them. The human body has some automatic ways of reacting when what is being said contradicts to what the mind knows. 

When a person says something that he knows to be untrue, a number of things become obvious. He will show signs of nervousness. His body will make it difficult for him to speak. He may, for instance, put his fingers slightly across his mouth, as if to stifle the words. He may, also, keep looking away like he wants to divert the focus of attention from himself. 

Even if the liar may be able to keep outward manifestations in control, there may still be some discrepancy in his speech. His throat muscles may constrict so that the observer may notice a slight vocal tremor or rise in pitch. He may stutter, hesitate, mumble, switch words or sentences around, or his talk disjointed altogether, shifting halfway from one phrase and then to another.

But if the liar is knowledgeable about all these involuntary signals, he may try to mask them. He may deliberately control his body language. Knowing that restlessness is a telltale sign of lying, he may stand unusually motionless, use fewer gestures than usual, and keep his physical expression fixed.  

Particularly, he may keep his hands turned inwards. Studies suggest that it is easier for people to tell a lie if the palms of their hands are held downwards and out of view.  So some people telling a lie put their hands in their pockets; others keep holding on to something. 

The expert liars may also try to conceal their jitters by maintaining direct eye contact and a bright smile. The smile, though, often appears fake, involving the lips but does not reflect in their eyes. Instead, their eyes can be eerily penetrating, as if searching whether their audience has a hint of what’s really going on inside them.  

Underneath all this masking, the skilled liar nevertheless sends out all kinds of nervous signals, out of anxiety of being uncovered. These signs are sometimes not easily seen, and do not appear at all in those parts of the body that are most visible, such as the face. But they are there, always; although it takes a keener eye to spot the slips of a clever sham. 

Somewhere away from the poker face, the liar’s fingers may be fidgeting, his toes twitching, his feet tapping as if raring to escape. The liar may have uneven breathing, a tendency to clear his throat repeatedly, a sudden change in skin color, or a dry mouth that causes him to lick his lips more often. The unconscious, uncontrollable signals of stress from the nervous system will always find their way to the surface.

  These same signals, however, can sometimes show up for reasons other than that the person is lying. He may be telling the truth but is apprehensive that his revelation will be unwelcome. He may be telling the truth but not really want to be telling it, for one reason or another.  

If you suspect that someone is lying, there is a way to get to the bottom of things. Move closer, face the person directly, get eye contact, and take on a serious, inquisitive expression. Ask probing questions. Be observant of signs of stress as he answers. If your doubt persists, continue asking or rephrase your questions and ask them again. Eventually, you may hear the truth.  

It may be harder to catch a liar with something immensely important at stake. He will devote ample time and resources to prepare for his acts. He will rehearse extensively, and may even tap a professional coach to perfect his performance.  

Now and then, the master of deception wins. But, at the same, it is often he who pays the heaviest cost in the end. He will punish himself with self-inflicted torment from his own guilty conscience. For it is said: “The truth shall set us free.” He who tampers with the truth secures himself a ticket to his own perdition.  

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