Hobbies And Interests
The Eyes
The old saying, "The eyes are the window to the soul" may be a cliche, but it is true. The eyes are automatically regulated by the brain and give many clues into their owner's thoughts.
First, look at the pupils. When a person sees somebody that they are attracted to in some way, their pupils will dilate. As the pupils grow larger, they will reflect more light and appear to sparkle. This unconscious reaction is often referenced in a multitude of love songs and poems. If the pupils dilate during a conversation then it is an indicator that the person likes what he/she is hearing and visualizing it. However, the dilation response can also be triggered by fear, so the context of the meeting or conversation should be kept in mind.
An easy way to tell if someone is nervous or lying is through eye contact. If a person is avoiding eye contact, then this is normally attributed to being frightened. If the conversation is casual and there is no overt reason for nervousness, then it is an indicator that the person may not be forthright.
Since eye contact is a pretty obvious symptom of lying and is not one of the autonomic aspects of the eye, it can be forced. A more subtle way to tell what somebody is thinking is through eye movement and knowing normal eye movement patterns. If a person looks to their left it means that the person is recalling an auditory memory. A glance to their right means that the person is constructing an auditory thought. Glances upward normally means that the person is activating the visual parts of the brain. Downward looks refer to the other senses. Therefore, if a person looks up and to their right it means that they are constructing a visual image while up and to their left means that the person is recalling a visual memory. When the eyes glance down to their right it is an indication that the person is making a sensory or emotional feeling.
With regards to lying, if a person is asked a question and is looking toward his right it means he is fabricating an answer rather than referring to their own memory.
Body Language
When a person crosses his arms, he is guarding himself. This means that the person is uncomfortable or on the defensive due to an insult or disagreement.
Sagging shoulders and poor posture are often symptoms of sadness and depression. A rigid appearance is often a sign of stress.
Observing unnecessary movements is another trick used by both lie detectors and poker players. Each individual has his own personal ways of venting nervous energy and can be identified when a person: licks his lips, curls his hair, shifts his weight, scratches his head or nose, etc. The trick is to observe a person's movements and twitches and compare them to the outcome of the situation or the person's reaction to a conversation. It is important to keep in mind what makes a person nervous. Embarrassment, lying or when something is at stake are all reasons and should be observed in context.
Voice and Speech
An obvious indicator of nervousness, whether triggered by fear or desire, is stammering, elevated voice and misspeaking. A person will often fumble their words when nervous, agitated or aroused. Overuse of certain words such as "like" is another symptom of excitement, and any of the aforementioned indicators can also be signs of a lack of knowledge and ineptitude.
There are certain patterns of voice and speech that are fairly reliable lie detector tests. If a person is wrongly accused of lying it is very natural to become very frustrated, which comes across in the voice. When justly accused of lying, a person's voice will normally remain lower as they attempt to prove themselves through other methods.
One common sign of a person's infidelity is repeating an asked question in their answer. For example, if asked "Did you spill this milk," an innocent person will normally be direct and just reply "No." If a person says "No, I did not spill the milk," it often means that he is lying as the person is going above and beyond in order to reassure the interrogator.
If a person is lying, he will often fill silences or pauses with useless banter such as "Do I look like the kind of person that would do that?"
Often out of frustration or when lying, a person will attempt to turn the conversation on the person asking the questions, casting blame and attacks outward. A person who is lying will attempt to do this in order to alleviate his own tension, and a purely frustrated or upset person will do this simply out of hurt. The key to telling the difference between the two is in the manner of the question. When trying to figure out if somebody is lying, present the questions in a casual manner so that the person has no reason to become frustrated.