We have all heard about body language right? But would you know how to spot if someone was lying?

We all make similar, small, unconscious movements with our bodies, hands, eyes, and mouths. Whether or not we want to, we all do.

People lie every day; it could be a little white lie, a falsehood or a great big over the top lie. People lie to sound more impressive, especially if it is being used in courtship. It’s almost like the male peacock fanning his magnificent tail out just that bit further, stating how glorious he looks. He does look glorious but he will go the extra mile to impress.

Past research shows that there is no difference in the amount of lies a man tells to the amount that a woman tells. However the structure of the lie may differ enormously.

Men are more likely to tell a lie to make them sound more impressive, but women tend to tell a lie to make other people feel good.

Male, ‘You should have seen the fish I caught, it was at least 3foot long!’

Female, ‘I like your new hair style, it makes you look younger.’

Now whilst both of these statements could be true, they are more than likely white lies.

Women are more likely to express positive assessments about things they really like and thinks they really don’t like.

Are lies then actually a necessary part of society? I think they may well be.

We are taught from an early age to lie.

‘Mom said we have to thank Aunt Marge for the knitted jumper that’s 2 sizes too big and tell her its lovely!’

‘Don’t tell your Dad I am wearing his socks.’

Some people actually use lying as a proven stepladder to get where they want to be in business. People who need to manipulate people into doing something, buying something, getting them to do what they want are born to lie or they learn very quickly that its to there advantage and they never really have any guilt about lying.

The same goes for people who are out going and popular, they have to set out a profile of who they are and what they are all about, now the liars here are not bad ones, they just add a little more razzmatazz.

We often tend to choose to ignore the fact that someone is lying to us, maybe it causes to much pain to face up to it or you know an argument with evolve if you do point it out.

Most of us run on instinct for example, you know that your child has been taking extra sweets from the jar before you have even found the wrappers hidden down the side of the bed.

To look at someone’s body language to find out if they are lying is not to be done by just taking one action, there are often a few all mingled together and you have to be quick to spot them. Someone just touching their nose or avoiding your eyes is not necessarily lying. They could have an itch or the blood vessels in their nose could be swelling do to a lying reaction. Some people find it hard to look another person in the eye.

Some people that are lying tend to become panicky and anxious but that again could be down to stress and nothing else. Some experts say that you should look at the lower part of the body if you think someone is lying because they are more conscious of upper body control, eyes, mouth, hands and will keep them steady and relaxed but then that leaves to lie to show up down below, tiny adjustments to the feet or legs are what you need to look for.

If people cover their mouth when you suspect they are lying, you would probable be right even if its just a chin hold or the touch their lips. Also this is where the nose touching could come in; by touching the nose they are attempting to cover the mouth.

Many Politicians, fraudsters and sales people will do this.  

When people try to mask the lie with their body language: the smile not quite meeting the eyes, the hands and arms stiff at the sides or folded to keep them from moving. They are fighting two sets of instructions, one set that they are consciously making their face do and the other set from their brain unconsciously. For this to work and their true feeling to be kept hidden the conscious actions have to be stronger but on occasions the true feelings will break through. That is what you have to look for.

Lying is very hard work, the bodies responses to masking the lie uses up most of the bodies emotions and the body has to fight with the brain to stop the masked lie getting through. I think we can all tell if a loved one maybe lying but it’s not so easy to spot a liar that we don’t know well.