Can you spot a liar?

We may hope that liars show obvious physical giveaways of their deceit, but unfortunately it's not as simple as that. However, there are still ways to catch tricksters out. Feat. Battenberg, a turtleneck, and S Club 7.

Tweet me: @sophsnotes
Insta me: @sophs_notes

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Chapters

0:00 Intro
0:46 Does catch-all liar body language exist?
3:14 My favourite *prospective* lie behaviours
4:55 Ways to improve liar research
6:21 Data rejects body language, but the TSA still use it
9:08 'It helps us catch criminals, who cares?' er... it doesn't
10:43 Potential ways to actually spot a liar!
13:04 Liars mimic the person they're lying to
15:06 Where more research is needed
16:03 My terrible lie-spotting revealed
18:08 The perfect follow on video to this one
19:07 Outtro & outtakes

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References

Maria Hartwig and co’s Jan 2019 Paper

Really nice walkthrough of things I’ve discussed, and more! Well cited, too.

The big meta analysis **EDIT - I stumbled on these numbers! It was actually nonverbal only: 52%, Verbal only 63% (not 64%), and both 56% (not 54%). My bad!**
That analysis’ predecessor

TSA’s 2015 list of suspect behaviours

The 2015 find by Homeland Security that the TSA let through fake explosives and real weapons 95% of the time

Strategic use of evidence in interviews works

The study which found liars mimic those they’re lying to

BBC article on cognitive load, and the disappointing results in body language research

Other articles I read

‘Former CIA officer will teach you how to spot a lie’, filmed in 2015

Ted talk by Pamela Meyer, ‘How to spot a liar’, 2011. This is where the 'duping delight' pic is from too.

[SophsNotes]

Eye contact? More like LIE contact amirite?! (can't believe I missed putting that joke in the actual vid)


EDIT: I made a little mistake on the meta-analysis percentages! It was actually nonverbal only: 52%, Verbal only 63% (not 64%), and both 56% (not 54%). My bad!

[rickseiden]

This channel is a perfect example of how becoming successful on YouTube comes down to luck. These videos are incredibly well done, scientifically accurate and easy to understand. The channel even got a boost by a YouTube Giant, John Greene (which is how I got here), and yet there still isn't a huge number of subscribers. Soph, you deserve 10 times as many subscribers as you have, easily.

[borealis.creations]

The other problem with determining lying based on body language (and mimicry also to an extent) is that a lot of neurodivergent people express body language in a way that would traditionally be seen as suspicious, including when it comes to eye contact, fidgeting, and many other classic "tells".

[IcyMidnight]

Wait a second. In every single one of these videos Soph keeps eye contact with the camera for unnaturally long! What if it's all been lies!

[Respectable_Username]

Not to mention that the "lie detecting" behaviours don't take into account neurodivergency, such as many people with ADHD or Autism make less eye contact as a baseline
Edit: I see somebody else has noted this further down in the comments!

[Jerome...]

Well, this is a good follow up video after that money game.

[mariannetfinches]

After hearing that TSA list I'm pretty sure the next time I travel I'll massively overthink my body language & get myself sectioned

[Jack-xcys]

Context is everything. To tell a convincing lie one most almost completely believe it and live in it, eat it, breathe it and so on. Self-deception is at play when someone lies. Liars often embrace the lies of others so confusion is the commodity amongst the deceived and those who choose to believe them. When things don't add up, the liar is confused.

[lysaali]

1:16 she said "SUS"
get her boys!!! 😆

[stuartp]

As an autistic person with anxiety and PTSD, I imagine people think I'm lying a lot. Certainly people with traditional beliefs about body language.

The slight smirk thing reminds me of L Ron Hubbard or Stefan Molyneux, who do this grin when they tell a big lie or go through a really egregious argument.

[tisjester]

Ok Sophie, You are the one who finally got me to get onboard with CuriosityStream / Nebula.. I was waiting for the right sale.. The right creator to support at that sale price. Finally the right time. It was between You Soph's Notes and Half as Interesting. HAI had deadliest day of the year and you had Can you spot a liar. I prefer the underdog, in this case that is you.. You deserve many more subscribers than you have as your videos are always so thought provoking and interesting. Which I expect will come with time.
When I think YouTube I harken back to those early days and you embody that spirit in your videos. Thanks again for the great videos.

[zennekelechien]

00:39 LOL
08:46 Never imagined you'd smell suspicious. XD I usually only start emanating odors after the cops surround me...
Not only did I learn more about bullshitting today, I found out what a Battenberg cake is!
Great episode, Soph! Merci! :D

[Jaclyn_Lizzi]

Love the liar dance at the beginning XD

[colpul]

Just posting for Youtube engagement numbers.... No idea why you only have 20k subs, this is a great channel.

I'd also think most of the lie detector things, like real lie detectors which are at best hit and miss anyway, are pretty meaningless against sociopaths and psychopaths as they don't have 'normal' stress reactions to lying.

BTW, while I'm putting out complements for your channel you have a quite lovely voice. You ever think about voice acting?

[soniczforever]

I was once getting to online date and I felt she was lying. Said she was in a hospital no beeps...obviously wasn't. They are the noisiest places on earth.

[twothreebravo]

All the stuff you mention in the "Potential Way To Spot a Liar" section are actual interrogation techniques that law enforcement use to catch up a suspect who they suspect of lying - or know is lying.

[JanDoggen]

"Duping delight" can definitely be a false sign. Personally, I have the tendency to smile more than necessary, that is a way of coming across as 'likable'. I think I'm not the only one with that mannerism.

[spiritsciences]

A fascinating and interesting video. Thanks! 😊 (really)

[MrTapierwithmustache]

I must seem like a liar all the time then, as I don't really look people in the eyes like ever when I talk.

[Martin-delta]

Did you ever watch the fictional show "Lie to me" I really enjoyed the first season.