1. HOLDS FEET IN A CERTAIN POSITION
With over 25 years of experience, licensed psychotherapist James Miller says the link between feet and lying is something most people don't know. “Most people are good at following facial expressions, but most people don't realize that the further away a limb is from the brain, the less attention we pay to what it's doing,” he explains.
According to Miller, excessive foot movement or tapping is a good sign that a person may be distracted by their own lies. But the ultimate sign is actually the placement of one's feet. “If the person's feet suddenly look away, it usually indicates that the person wants to escape or is about to lie with their words. But their feet are out of sync with their words,” he says.
2. THEY LOOK LIKE THEY CAN'T STOP MOVING
But if a person is moving so much that you can't assess the placement of their feet, this can also be a cause for concern. According to Rachel Eddins, LPC, a licensed therapist and executive director at Eddins Counseling Group in Texas, people often have trouble staying still while lying down. If you're worried that someone isn't being honest, she says to look out for disturbing body language cues, such as restless legs and feet or swaying.
“They may be constantly moving their feet or trying to leave the conversation as quickly as possible,” says Eddins. “The swaying is also a result of the uneasy feeling that comes with lying.”
3. THEY PLAY WITH THEIR FACE, HANDS AND HAIR
Most of us are aware that someone who lies will be more fidgety. But David Clark, a lawyer for more than 35 years and a partner at The Clark Law Office, says you need to watch out for fidgeting about appearance. “What I see in court all the time is that a person adjusts some part of their attire,” he explains. “It could be their tie or their glasses.”
According to Clark, there are two other common appearance adjustments people can make when lying. One is to use a handkerchief to constantly wipe the sweat off their head. Another is that if their hair is long, they tend to play with it.
4. THEY DON'T MAKE EYE CONTACT
The eyes are the windows to the soul and therefore a pretty good way to tell if someone is lying. Clark says that a “simple way” to tell if someone is lying is to observe their eye movements. “If they stop making eye contact, it's a sign that the person knows they're lying and is averting their eyes to reduce the guilt in their mind,” he explains.
