Ask Unexpected Questions to Catch Someone Lying
Whether you’re trying to find out the truth from a teenager, or you suspect a friend has fabricated a story, catching someone in a lie takes a little bit of effort. Scientific American studied military interrogation tactics to understand what worked in everyday life and found left-field questions a good way to confuse a liar.
When someone is lying, they usually rehearse the story completely and are ready to go. So, to find out if they’re coming up with something, it’s a good idea to try to confuse them on the go. Scientific American explains:
People being interrogated often know they are suspect, so they work out their answers in advance. In addition, liars have a strong cognitive load as they try to tell the truth directly and at the same time behave calmly and collected. If you ask them something unexpected, they often stumble when they are in place, which allows you to catch them in a lie.
When someone tells you a story that you think is false, keep them on their toes by asking weird questions as you talk to them. The details are good here, and the more they don’t involve lying, the better. For example, if you think someone is lying about being in a movie theater, ask them what the previews were, or if a particular B-actor was in the movie. Visit Scientific American for other ways to catch a liar.
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