Human Lie Detection Techniques - Vanessa Van Edwards

Introduction

• Guest: Vanessa Van Edwards, author of Human Lie Detection and Body Language 101
• Topic: How to get people to tell more or even confess

Analysis of Amanda Knox Interview

• Example video from Amanda Knox's interview with Diane Sawyer
• Key observations about Amanda Knox's behavior:
  • Nodding while saying no (incongruent behavior)
  • Raised eyebrows (indicator of surprise)
  • Swallowed before answering (sign of intense nervousness)
  • Stiffness in body language (suggests coaching)
• Importance of baselining:
  • Observing someone when they are not nervous
  • Helps to differentiate between nerves and lies

Techniques for Lie Detection

• Don't Fill the Void: Wait for Silence

  • Ask a question and wait two beats before reacting
  • Silence makes liars nervous and they might fill it with more information
  • Example: Asking a teenager about a cheating incident

• Invade Personal Space

  • Step towards the person or lean in
  • Makes the person feel that you are on to them
  • Effective with real estate agents, spouses, etc.
  • Example: Asking about a leaky air conditioner

• Nod Your Head

  • Nodding increases the likelihood of the person speaking 3-4 times more
  • Shows engagement and expectation for them to continue
  • Especially useful with reticent teenagers

• Show Disengagement

  • Leaning back can show doubt or disengagement
  • Useful in negotiations, e.g., with a real estate agent

• Change the Storytelling

  • Ask the person to recount the story from a different perspective or order
  • Liars who have rehearsed stories find this difficult
  • Example: Asking a teenager to recount the night’s events backward

Strategies for Parents

• Tell the Worst Version

  • Propose a worse scenario than what you suspect
  • Liars tend to correct the more severe accusation but may admit to the lesser one
  • Example: Accusing a child of taking a credit card to reveal they took money instead

• Minimize the Significance

  • Empathize and downplay the severity of the act
  • Makes it easier for the liar to confess
  • Example: Suggesting it’s understandable if money was taken for prom

Conclusion

• Importance of these techniques in various relationships (parents, spouse, coworkers)
• Emphasis on ethical use of these strategies
• Vanessa Van Edwards’ book: Human Lie Detection and Body Language 101