How to Tell if They are Lying: Surefire Signs They aren't Telling the Truth!

(photo credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/myprettyhell/)
In this article we are going to explore one of the great insecurities that each of us face throughout the course of our lives, in just about EVERY aspect of our human relationships…work, play, romantic and familial! Who can we trust…and more directly, how can we tell when we are being lied to? Well, if you aren't sure if your boss is REALLY thinking about giving you that promotion, or your fiancé' really just likes playing tennis with your best friend Steve, these simple cues should clue you in on getting to the truth, and fast! Ready? Great! Read on..;-)
Except in the case of the most habitual persistent liar, telling someone an untruth rouses guilt in the offender. It makes them feel bad! It is this guilt that causes her to involuntarily give off signals that indicate she is lying. Some of the most common and obvious of these behaviors are as follows:
1)Covering the Mouth—Both young children and adults will exhibit this action when they are telling a lie. Subconsciously, it is their way of covering up the fact that they are being untruthful. Sometimes people will try to make this gesture appear more natural by accompanying it with a manufactured cough. Don’t let the sudden scratchy-throat tactic fool you! A faked cough is the offender’s way of masking a lie. By making the untruth unintelligible, the liar is rationalizing her action. In effect, she’s telling herself, “I didn’t actually say it out loud, so I’ve committed no real offense.”
2) Stroking the Nose—If someone gently runs her finger along the side of her nose while speaking to you, chances are, what she is saying is a lie. You can distinguish this behavior from someone who is merely scratching an itchy nose by being mindful of the pressure applied. A scratch is more deliberate while the lying action is more subtle.
3) Closed Palms—Palms open and facing upwards are a traditional sign of honesty. As a result, someone who is lying to you will find it difficult to accompany their falsehoods with such a demeanor. Watch for closed or hidden hands when trying to spot a liar. A liar may place her hands in her lap, behind her back or in her pockets, anywhere where you’ll be unable to see her palms.
4) Lack of Eye Contact—When someone is lying to you, s/he will have an extremely hard time looking you straight in the eye. To avoid direct contact with you, s/he may employ any of a number of tactics, depending on his/her gender. Men tend to rub their eyes energetically while women are more likely to rub the area just below their eyes. Untruthful males have a tendency to look down toward the floor or at their hands while being untruthful. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to stare up at the ceiling. While direct eye contact may be a sign of truthfulness, be on the look out for prolonged contact or heavy staring. The cunning liar may be using this tactic as an overcompensation strategy to try to fool you into thinking s/he is telling the truth.
And there you have it! A few simple ways to figure out what they are thinking without having to say (or hear) a word! And you really thought you were getting that promotion now, didn't you…;-) Hey, you've got something FAR more valuable now – use it to decipher ALL of your life's great relationship quandries – I know I do!