Body

Features Reference pictures

gesture
s

Hea May indicate

d uncertainty or a
lack of conviction.
tiltin
g:

Head contradicting verbal

shaking agreement: Saying
(sideway "yes" while subtly
s) shaking the head
"no" can reveal
underlying
disagreement or
deception

Head This can be a subtle

pulled indication of
back distancing oneself
from the
slightl
statement they
y:
are making, as if
they don't fully
endorse it.

down abruptly:

Lookin
g
away
or
a irect or sensitive
sudden questions, might
suggest discomfort
and with the topic or an
c attempt to avoid
o revealing something.
n Looking down can
s also be associated
i with feeling ashamed
s or trying to conceal
t emotions.
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Body
Features Reference pictures
gestures

In some situations, a liar

Lowerin might subconsciously
adopt a more submissive
g chin: posture, including lowering
the chin, to appear less
aggressive or to evoke
sympathy, potentially
deflecting suspicion.

Neck and This is a common self-soothing

behavior. When someone feels
collorbone anxious, stressed, or
touching uncomfortable (which can be
or rubbing associated with lying), they
or might rub or touch their neck.
scratching It's akin to a mini-massage to
: relieve tension.

When someone is feeling

stressed or "hot under
the collar" due to the
Collar
pulling pressure of a lie, they
or might unconsciously tug
adjusting: at their collar or adjust
their clothing around their
neck. This can be a
displacement activity to
release nervous energy

A visibly tense or stiff neck can

indicate stress, defensiveness,
or resistance. Someone who is
Tense lying might feel
or stiff psychologically rigid, which
neck: can manifest physically in their
neck muscles.

While sometimes just a physical

necessity, frequent throat
clearing can also be a sign of
Throat discomfort, nervousness, or an
clearing: attempt to buy time while
formulating a lie. It can feel like
there's a lump in the throat when
someone is being dishonest.
Body
Features Reference pictures
gestures

This is a classic sign of uncertainty,

doubt, or a lack of commitment. If
someone shrugs while stating a fact or
denying something, it can indicate
Shoulder they aren't entirely convinced by
their own words. A partial or micro-
shrugs shrug (a very slight, almost
(full or imperceptible movement) can be even
more revealing of underlying doubt.
partial):

Tense shoulders held high can

Raised indicate stress, anxiety, or
defensiveness. Someone who is
or tense lying might feel under pressure,
shoulder leading to this physical
manifestation of tension.
s:

While sometimes indicating

sadness or fatigue, suddenly
Slumped slumped shoulders can also
or suggest a lack of confidence
dropped
shoulders or conviction in what they are
: saying. It can convey a
feeling of being weighed
down by the lie.

If someone's shoulders are noticeably

turned away from you while they are
speaking, it can indicate a lack of
engagement, discomfort, or a desire to
distance themselves from the
Shoulders conversation or the person they are
turned talking to. This can be a subtle sign of
away: disassociation, which might occur when
someone is being dishonest.

Unnatural or asymmetrical shoulder

Jerky or movements can be a sign of
underlying tension or an attempt to
uneven control their body language, which
shoulder can happen when someone is being
movement deceptive.
s:
Body
Features Reference pictures
gestures

A sudden decrease in natural

body movement can suggest
heightened awareness, tension,
Becomin or an attempt to control
g rigid or nonverbal cues, which might
still happen when someone is being
deceptive.

Creating physical distance can

signal discomfort, disengagement,
or a desire to withdraw from the
conversation or the person. This
Leaning might occur if someone feels
away: uneasy about their deception being
discovered.

Restless shifting of weight from one leg

Shifting to the other can be a sign of
weight nervousness, anxiety, or a desire to
frequently escape the situation, all of which can
: be associated with deception.

Instinctively guarding vulnerable

areas of the torso, such as the
chest or stomach, with arms or
Protectiv hands can suggest feeling
e threatened or defensive, which
gestures might arise when someone is
: lying and fears being exposed.

Subtly placing objects (like a bag,

a pillow, or even hands)
between themselves and the
Blocking questioner can create a physical
behavior and psychological barrier,
s: indicating discomfort or
defensiveness.
Body
Features Reference pictures
gestures

Increased touching of the face, such as

covering the mouth (as if trying to block
words), touching the nose (often linked
Hand-to- to feeling uneasy or lying, though
face debated), rubbing the eyes (possibly
indicating disbelief or an attempt to
gestures avoid seeing), or scratching the
: forehead (suggesting confusion or
mental effort).

Actions like playing with hair,

adjusting jewelry, picking at nails,
or smoothing clothes can be
Self- displacement activities used to
grooming: release nervous energy or self-
soothe when feeling stressed or
deceptive.

Restless movements of the

hands, such as tapping fingers,
drumming on a surface, wringing
hands, or playing with small
Fidgetin objects (pens, keys), can
g: indicate nervousness, anxiety,
or impatience.

Showing palms: Can sometimes

indicate openness, honesty, and
sincerity. A sudden shift away from
open palms might suggest a change
in comfort level or truthfulness.
Palm Concealing palms: Hiding hands in
displays: pockets, under the table, or behind
the back might suggest withholding
information or discomfort.
Pointing: Especially if done
aggressively or repeatedly, may be an
attempt to shift focus or blame.

If someone who has been engaging

with open body language (e.g.,
uncrossed arms, open palms)
suddenly crosses their arms when a
crossed sensitive or potentially incriminating
arms topic arises, this shift could indicate
a move towards defensiveness or
emotional withdrawal. This
defensiveness could be linked to
lying, as the person might feel
threatened or want to create a
barrier.
Body
Features Reference pictures
gestures

Restless movements like tapping

feet, bouncing legs, or rapid shaking
can be a significant indicator of
Fidgeting nervous energy, anxiety, or
discomfort. This can arise from the
: stress of lying or the fear of being
caught.

Initially uncrossed legs crossing: This could

indicate a shift to a more closed-off or
defensive posture as the conversation
Crossed becomes more sensitive.
legs (and
Uncrossing legs: Conversely, suddenly
changes in
uncrossing legs might signal a change in
crossing): comfort level or a renewed interest or
engagement.
Legs crossed tightly: Can suggest
defensiveness, resistance, or an attempt to
contain nervous energy.

Pulling feet back towards the

Drawing body or wrapping legs around
feet and each other can be a sign of
legs inward withdrawal, discomfort, or an
and leg attempt to make oneself smaller
wrapping: or less exposed.

Pressing the ankles tightly

Ankle together can be a sign of
locking: attempting to physically
restrain oneself or suppress
emotions.

This is a subtle but potentially

revealing cue. Subconsciously,
people's feet tend to point in the
direction they want to go or feel
most comfortable with. If someone's
feet are consistently pointed
towards an exit while they are
Pointing verbally engaged in a conversation,
feet: it might suggest a subconscious
desire to leave or disengage,
potentially due to discomfort with
their deception.
 Micro expression Reference pictures

Happiness:
Deceptive Scenario: Someone
might be feigning happiness
about a situation they are
actually unhappy about (e.g.,
receiving a gift they dislike,
congratulating someone they
envy).
Microexpression Leakage: A
fleeting sad microexpression
might flash before or during their
forced smile.
Alternatively, the smile might not
be "genuine" – lacking the crow's
feet around the eyes that
typically accompany true
happiness. A microexpression of
contempt might also appear if
they feel superior or dismissive
of the situation.

Sadness:
Deceptive Scenario: Someone
might be trying to appear
unaffected by a loss or
disappointment they are actually
feeling deeply (e.g., after a
rejection, when talking about a
difficult event).
Microexpression Leakage: A brief
flash of the inner corners of the
eyebrows drawing up and
together, or a fleeting downturn
of the lips, might betray their
underlying sadness despite a
neutral or even positive outward
demeanor.

Disgust:
Deceptive Scenario: Someone
might be trying to be polite or
agreeable about something they
find repulsive or morally wrong
(e.g., when discussing a harmful
action they were involved in).
Microexpression Leakage: A brief
wrinkling of the nose or raising
of the upper lip might reveal
their underlying disgust despite
their verbal agreement or
neutral expression.
Fear:
Deceptive Scenario: Someone might be
trying to act confident or innocent while
actually fearing the consequences of
their lie being discovered.
Microexpression Leakage: A quick raising
and drawing together of the eyebrows,
widened eyes, or tensed lips could
indicate their underlying fear despite a
calm facade. This might occur when
they are asked a direct or challenging
question.

Surprise:
Deceptive Scenario: Someone might be
feigning surprise at news they already
knew or were expecting.
Microexpression Leakage: A genuine
surprise microexpression is very brief. If
the "surprise" expression lingers too
long or doesn't involve all the elements
(raised eyebrows, widened eyes,
dropped jaw), it might be feigned. A
fleeting microexpression of happiness (if
the news benefits them) or fear (if the
news is about their lie being exposed)
might also contradict the feigned
surprise.

Contempt:
Deceptive Scenario: Someone might be
trying to appear respectful or equal while
secretly feeling superior or dismissive of
the person they are interacting with or the
situation.
Microexpression Leakage: A quick raising
and tightening of one corner of the mouth
(often asymmetrical) can betray their
underlying contempt despite polite words
or a neutral expression. This might occur
when they think they are outsmarting
someone with their lie.

Anger:
Deceptive Scenario: Someone might be
trying to appear calm and cooperative
while secretly feeling angry or resentful
(e.g., during an interrogation, when
accused of something).
Microexpression Leakage: A fleeting
lowering and drawing together of the
eyebrows, a glare in the eyes, or a
tightening of the lips could betray their
hidden anger despite a polite or neutral
outward presentation.
 Eye movement and Reference
features pictures

Looking Up and to the Left (from

the observer's perspective):
Supposedly indicated visual
constructing or creating an
image (thus, potentially lying).

Looking Up and to the Right

(from the observer's
perspective): Supposedly
indicated visual
remembering (thus,
potentially telling the truth).

Looking Sideways to the Left:

Supposedly indicated
auditory constructing.

Looking Sideways to the

Right: Supposedly indicated
auditory remembering.

Looking Down and to the

Left: Supposedly indicated
kinesthetic (feelings)
access.

Looking Down and to the

Right: Supposedly indicated
internal dialogue.
 Eye movement and Reference
features pictures
Changes in eye contact: This can
manifest as either avoiding eye
contact or, conversely,
maintaining intense,
unwavering eye contact (trying
to appear sincere). Neither is
conclusive on its own.

Increased blinking:
Nervousness or the cognitive
effort of lying can lead to
more frequent blinking.

Pupil dilation or constriction:

These involuntary responses can
indicate emotional changes or
increased cognitive load.

To glance at something
suggests a desire for that thing
such as glancing at the door
indicates a desire to leave or
glancing at a person shows a
desire to talk to him or her.
During conversation, looking
upwards or to the right
indicates a lie while looking
upward but to the left indicates
the truth.