The Apple of My Eye: What Lies Under the Surface

What color is an apple? If I ask you to envision a red apple, the color would be red. But what if I told you it isn’t just red? The surface of an apple may show various shades of red, yet inside lies a distinctly peachy color. This contrast mirrors the complexity of human nature: what we see on the outside often differs from what lies within. Just as the true colors of an apple reveal themselves only upon closer inspection, so too do the complexities of an individual’s character. The ability to discern these layers requires a trained eye, as appearances can be deceiving. To truly understand a person, one must look beyond the surface by observing their body language, asking the right questions, and analyzing the subtleties of their speech.

Body language often serves as a window into a person’s true intentions. Despite ongoing debate within the healthcare community about the reliability of body language in detecting lies, certain cues can be telling. For instance, hand gestures that occur after a conversation can indicate that someone is fabricating a story. According to Dr. Gary Brown, liars may engage in habitual movements after speaking because their minds are occupied with concocting their narrative, assessing their credibility, and adding more details to their story. Studies, such as one conducted by the University of Michigan in 2015, have shown that liars are more likely to use both hands when gesturing—40% of the time compared to just 25% for those telling the truth. Additionally, fidgeting, swaying, and grooming behaviors, like playing with one’s hair, are other signs that someone might be deceptive. These behaviors can suggest discomfort or anxiety, often associated with dishonesty, but it’s important to consider alternative explanations like nervousness or stress.

Asking the right questions is another effective strategy for uncovering deception. The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania advises narrowing your inquiries to specific details of a person’s story. Beginning with general, open-ended questions and gradually focusing on more specific, even negative, aspects forces the individual to either provide truthful information or create a plausible lie. Notably, when asked sensitive questions, liars often purse their lips—a sign of discomfort. According to Professor R. Edward Geiselman, instead of elaborating, deceptive people tend to withhold additional details. Pausing after asking a question can further encourage them to speak, potentially revealing inconsistencies or fabrications in their story.

The composition of speech also offers clues about a person’s honesty. Verbal cues, such as excessive use of phrases like "let me tell you the truth" or "to be honest," may indicate that someone is overcompensating in an attempt to gain your trust. This can be a red flag for deception, as noted by experts like Dr. Lillian Glass. Moreover, the strategy of "cognitive overload"—asking someone to recount events in reverse chronological order—can help expose lies. Research by Imbir and Wielgopolan (2023) shows that this technique makes verbal slip-ups more likely, which can be telling. Interestingly, liars often avoid the behaviors that people typically associate with lying, perhaps because they are aware of these stereotypes. Therefore, it’s crucial to stay vigilant and look for any subtle mistakes in both verbal and non-verbal cues.

Deception is an inherent part of human behavior, and uncovering the truth requires careful observation and judgment. By paying attention to body language, asking probing questions, and listening closely to how someone speaks, we can better navigate the complexities of human interaction. However, it’s also important to recognize that understanding someone’s true nature often takes time and deeper connection. In a world where appearances can be deceiving, being vigilant and cautious is essential to protecting ourselves. Just like the shades hidden beneath the skin of an apple, the truth about a person can be uncovered if we’re willing to look deeper.

References:

Jaili, C. (2019). How to tell if someone is lying to you, according to body language experts. Time.
https://time.com/5443204/signs-lying-body-language-experts/

Abouelenien, M., Burzo, M., Mihalcea, R., & Perez-Rosas, V. (2015). Deception detection using real-life trial data. Proceedings of the 2015 ACM on International Conference on Multimodal Interaction, pp. 59-66. https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2818346.2820758

UCLA. (2011, May 10). How to tell when someone's lying: Psychologist helps law enforcement agencies tell truth from deception. ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110510101627.htm

Calello, P., Galinsky, A., Schweitzer, M., & Yen, C. (2021). Recognizing deception: How to spot a lie. University of Pennsylvania. https://executiveeducation.wharton.upenn.edu/thought-leadership/wharton-at-work/2021/08/recognizing-deception/

Corley, M., Loy, J., Rohde, H. (2018). Cues to lying may be deceptive: Speaker and listener behaviour in an interactive game of deception. Journal of Cognition. https://journalofcognition.org/articles/10.5334/joc.46

Brennen, T., & Magnussen, S. (2022). The science of lie detection by verbal cues: What are the prospects for its practical applicability? Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.835285/full

Imbir, K., & Wielgopolan, A. (2023). Cognitive load and deception detection performance. Cognitive Science, 47(7). https://doi.org/10.1111/cogs.13321