Reading PeopleLie Detection

We Catch Liars About Half the Time

Most people spot lies only slightly better than a coin flip

How often would you trust a confident stranger’s story if you knew how close most judgments come to guessing?

You'll find out

  • See the pooled result
  • Watch two impressions flip
  • Find a record that can decide

Why it matters

Protect a decision by checking the claim when your first impression feels stronger than the evidence.

About 3 min6 interactive slides · 5 questionsLesson 82 · Zone 10

Play this lesson

Free to play in your browser or on iPhone

More in this zone

  1. 83Lie DetectionLiars Don't Always Look AwayLooking away is the most famous sign of lying, and one of the least reliable
  2. 84Truth-Default TheoryThe Truth DefaultWe're built to believe people, which is why liars usually get away with it
  3. 85InterviewingAsk Them to Tell It BackwardsLying is mentally hard; telling the story backwards makes it harder
  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