Mind WondersPlay

Reading PeopleInterviewing

The Unexpected Question

Liars rehearse their answers; they don't rehearse the question you didn't ask

What one question could turn a confident story into a detail you can actually go and check?

You'll find out

  • Move past the first answer
  • Ask for a useful landmark
  • Check one detail before you rely on it

Why it matters

Get a usable detail before you spend time, send money or make plans based on a confident account.

About 3 min6 interactive slides · 5 questionsLesson 90 · 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. 85InterviewingAsk Them to Tell It BackwardsLying is mentally hard; telling the story backwards makes it harder
  5. 86InterviewingToo Much Detail, or Too Little?True stories tend to be richer in details you could actually check
  6. 87Lie DetectionLie Detectors Don't Detect LiesThe polygraph measures nerves, not lies
  7. 88LyingEverybody Lies a LittleThe average person tells about one or two lies a day, mostly small
  8. 89DevelopmentWhy Kids Start LyingA toddler's first lie is a sign their brain is growing up