Can you tell if a client or witness is lying to you?
On Scientific American’s Savvy Psychologist podcast, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen shared seven ways to tell if someone is lying.
Sign No. 1 from the list is “duping delight”—catching a smile or excited fidgeting from someone who believes he or she is getting away with a lie and is getting a rush of pleasure from it.
Sign No. 4 is when someone is telling you a (perhaps well-rehearsed) story in strict chronological order. “A fun trick?” Hendriksen says. “If you think you’re hearing a tall tale, ask to hear the story backwards: ‘So when you just happened to see the car in the ditch—what happened before that again?’ and watch the liar squirm.”
So this week, we’d like to ask you: Can you tell if a client or witness is lying to you? If so, what kind of language or behavior will tip you off?
Answer in the comments.
Read the answers to last week’s question: What’s the most memorable praise you’ve ever received related to your legal work?
Featured answer:
Posted by VeggieShark: “After protecting an elderly client from unwanted ‘protective’ guardianship designed to take control of her estate by a distant niece, I received a trophy, yes an actual trophy, that said ‘Our Hero’ on the plaque. There was a chicken on the top.”
Do you have an idea for a future question of the week? If so, contact us.
