Full Story Traitor or faithful: how to spot a liar
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Oct 17, 2025 Timothy Luke, a senior lecturer in applied psychology at the University of Gothenburg, unpacks the science of detecting deception. He reveals that humans are notoriously bad at spotting lies, averaging only 54% accuracy. Eye contact and nervous tics? Not reliable tells. Instead, liars may provide fewer details due to extra cognitive load. Timothy advocates for focusing on evidence and inconsistencies rather than body language, presenting the Strategic Use of Evidence method as a powerful tool for revealing contradictions in lies.
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Humans Are Terrible Lie Detectors
- People average about 54% accuracy at detecting lies, barely above chance.
- This poor performance likely evolved to keep social interactions smooth by assuming truthfulness.
Eye Contact Is Not A Reliable Signal
- Avoiding eye contact is a pervasive stereotype about liars but lacks scientific support.
- Both truth-tellers and liars can display similar gaze patterns due to shared stress or stakes.
Polygraphs Measure Arousal Not Lies
- Polygraph measures physiological arousal like heart rate and sweating rather than lying itself.
- Arousal reflects stress or cognitive load, so polygraphs are unreliable for detecting deception.