The Ultimate Body Language Book

In closing off this general introduction, I would like to emphasis that by no means is lie detection easy
or straightforward and any source that tells you it is, is misleading you. Lying is not universally
stressful, guilt-inducing or even complicated. Some lies are simple and the motivation for lying varies
greatly. It is my contention which is supported by the literature on deception, that lying is used
routinely, and competently executed yields only faint clues through body language. Researchers who
favour my view say that ordinary people are so practiced and proficient and unaffected by lies, that
they could be regarded as professionals. Lying is so pervasive that over time (evolution), those who
were best able to fool others tended to be most successful and produced more of this trait. Therefore,
only weak ties exist between verbal and nonverbal tells with regards to lies, with the most blatant and
obvious signals eliminated quickly through our development and our evolutionary history.
Chapter 16 - Deception and Lie Detection
The Nine Reasons We Lie (outlined by Paul
Ekman)
The Nine Reasons We Lie (outlined by Paul Ekman)
1. To avoid punishment. This is the most frequently mentioned motive and is used to cover up a
deliberate or accidental misdeed.
2. To gain access to a reward not otherwise readily obtainable.
3. To protect another person from being punished.
4. To protect oneself from the threat of physical harm. This is unlike lying to avoid punishment as the
threat does not come from a misdeed. Ekman presents the example of a child who lies about his parents
being home to avoid having an intruder prey on them.
5. To win the admiration of others.
6. To avoid awkward social situations i.e. lying to avoid a boring party, or saying you are busy so you
don’t have to talk on the phone.
7. To avoid embarrassment i.e. telling others that you spilled water on your pants, when in reality it was
the result of a bathroom ‘accident’.
8. To maintain privacy. Lying to avoid revealing personal matters.
9. To gain power over others, by controlling the information they have, or think is correct.