Mind WondersPlay

Reading PeopleInterviewing

Ask Them to Tell It Backwards

Lying is mentally hard; telling the story backwards makes it harder

If a story makes perfect sense going forward, what useful detail might appear when you start at the end?

You'll find out

  • Start at the end of a story
  • Find a stop you can check
  • Keep a pause in perspective

Why it matters

Use a backward timeline to find the stop or time that saves you a wasted search.

About 3 min6 interactive slides · 5 questionsLesson 85 · Zone 10

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More in this zone

  1. 82Lie DetectionWe Catch Liars About Half the TimeMost people spot lies only slightly better than a coin flip
  2. 83Lie DetectionLiars Don't Always Look AwayLooking away is the most famous sign of lying, and one of the least reliable
  3. 84Truth-Default TheoryThe Truth DefaultWe're built to believe people, which is why liars usually get away with it
  4. 86InterviewingToo Much Detail, or Too Little?True stories tend to be richer in details you could actually check
  5. 87Lie DetectionLie Detectors Don't Detect LiesThe polygraph measures nerves, not lies
  6. 88LyingEverybody Lies a LittleThe average person tells about one or two lies a day, mostly small
  7. 89DevelopmentWhy Kids Start LyingA toddler's first lie is a sign their brain is growing up
  8. 90InterviewingThe Unexpected QuestionLiars rehearse their answers; they don't rehearse the question you didn't ask