We’re all guilty of telling little white lies. But some people take it a step farther and lie to deceive. The good news is you can learn to identify dishonesty. Follow these 4 tips to catch a liar in the act:

One, look for inconsistencies. If you suspect someone of lying, listen closely and take note of any disjointed pieces of their story. Liars usually slip up and ultimately tell on themselves.

Two, be wary of extra details. Liars will often throw in a lot of unnecessary specifics in an effort to convince you they aren’t lying.  

Three, ask probing questions and pay close attention to their reactions. If they get really defensive, skirt around your questions, or avoid the conversation altogether, they might be hiding something. 

Four, pay close attention to their body language. Is the individual avoiding eye contact? Are they fidgeting? Do they look uncomfortable? A liar might easily deceive with their words, but their posture and demeanor can point to dishonesty.

These four tips will help you catch a liar in the act.

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Taylor Bennett

Taylor Bennett

Taylor Bennett is the Content Development Manager at Thriveworks. She devotes herself to distributing important information about mental health and wellbeing, writing mental health news and self-improvement tips daily. Taylor received her bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism, with minors in professional writing and leadership from Virginia Tech. She is a co-author of Leaving Depression Behind: An Interactive, Choose Your Path Book and has published content on Thought Catalog, Odyssey, and The Traveling Parent.

Check out “Leaving Depression Behind: An Interactive, Choose Your Path Book” written by AJ Centore and Taylor Bennett."

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