Timothy Luke

Timothy Luke, a senior lecturer in applied psychology at the University of Gothenburg, dives into the intricacies of deception and lie detection. He reveals that common myths, like sweating and nervous ticks, lack scientific backing. Timothy discusses the average person's struggle with detecting lies and critiques the reliability of polygraphs. He also shares insights on how vague statements may indicate deceit and suggests evidence gathering as a trustworthy method for spotting liars. His practical advice? Approach judgments cautiously and focus on collecting clear evidence.

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.