Put 20 people from various backgrounds on an island competing for 1 million dollars almost guarantees 18 of them will be lying contently.  So aside from making fire from bamboo, I believe one of the next most important skills revolves around lying.

 

(SurvivorSuperFan Rob as Pinocchio and his girlfriend as Jasmine – Halloween 2014)

Tips for detecting a lie are as follows:

1. Behavioral pause or delay – If you ask a question and notice a delay before they reply, they may be trying to lie to you.

2. Verbal/non-verbal disconnect – A verbal “no” while nodding up and down shows their answer is false.

3. Hiding the mouth or eyes – This is the one I see most often when watching Survivor.  A hand over the liars mouth, or covering their eyes…they are “hiding” the truth.

4. Throat-clearing or swallowing – If done before answering, this indicates they are likely fibbing bigtime!  Though if done after the statement, it may not mean anything.

5. Hand-to-face activity – Biting of the lip, tugging on their lips, fiddling with their ears, tucking hair behind their ears…..Lies!

6. Grooming gestures – Fiddling with their buff, clothes, jewelry, hair….don’t believe what they are telling you to keep your game going.

 

So, to be a successful liar, learn to control the above, but a few more tips are listed here:

1. Keep it short, plausible and to the point.

2. Be Calm and confident

3. Include half-truths in your lie when possible.

4. Maintain physical closeness throughout – hand on the shoulder.

5. If accused, admit to something else to throw off the interrogator

6. Practice envisioning the “reality” of your lie.  I call this the Costanza Rule….”It’s not a lie if your truly believe it!”