Eye contact and lying

[On the Inside]

So here is a new finding from research on lying that is good news for those of us who avoid eye contact and therefore have been unduly thought of as dishonest and untrustworthy.

From this article: https://www.yahoo.com/health/5-ways-to-tell-if-someone-is-lying-to-you-174733710.html

3. Making direct eye contact
Despite many a preconceived notion that liars avoid eye contact, researchers found that fibbers actually looked the questioner in the eyemore often than those being truthful. In the videos studied, 70 percent of liars looked directly at their interrogator, versus 60 percent of honest people, something Mihalcea said may be because “the liars are trying so very hard to convince that they are not lying, that in a rational way, they’re just using everything they can” to emphasize their trustworthiness.

 

[Southern Discomfort]

Then we're all liars and scoundrels.

I've never been too good with eye contact, I used to be able to do it all the time at least for a few seconds but after a severe depression earlier this year, I haven't been able to look into the eyes of others at all. I'm not really sure why.

 

[Elpis]

Then we're all liars and scoundrels.

I've never been too good with eye contact, I used to be able to do it all the time at least for a few seconds but after a severe depression earlier this year, I haven't been able to look into the eyes of others at all. I'm not really sure why.

I'm not great with eye contact either. If I do try, I can almost never keep the eye contact even with people I'm comfortable with. It feels like someone is looking in on you, and I don't like the feeling.

 

[Datura]

So here is a new finding from research on lying that is good news for those of us who avoid eye contact and therefore have been unduly thought of as dishonest and untrustworthy.

From this article: https://www.yahoo.com/health/5-ways-to-tell-if-someone-is-lying-to-you-174733710.html

3. Making direct eye contact
Despite many a preconceived notion that liars avoid eye contact, researchers found that fibbers actually looked the questioner in the eyemore often than those being truthful. In the videos studied, 70 percent of liars looked directly at their interrogator, versus 60 percent of honest people, something Mihalcea said may be because “the liars are trying so very hard to convince that they are not lying, that in a rational way, they’re just using everything they can” to emphasize their trustworthiness.

That's an interesting irony.

This reminds me of when I was in a job hunting course. We had to stand in front of the class and answer interview questions. I was told not to hold my hands behind my back because people would subconciously think I was hiding something; if not physically than otherwise. And here I thought I was supposed to have "open posture" to demonstrate confidence and trust.

 

[Grayman]

I'm terrible with eye contact , Ive no idea why.

 

[On the Inside]

I'm terrible with eye contact , Ive no idea why.

I get overwhelmed by eye contact when I'm talking to someone. I can do it better when the other person is talking, but when I am, it will make it harder for me to process and express what I am trying to say. The same is true if someone is telling me something complex, I need to look elsewhere so I can process more completely, otherwise I'll get distracted by my own sensations and not pay close attention.

If you want me to really listen to what you have to say, don't insist I make eye contact.

 

[Naturalist]

I've never been too good with eye contact, I used to be able to do it all the time at least for a few seconds but after a severe depression earlier this year, I haven't been able to look into the eyes of others at all. I'm not really sure why.

I feel that I used to be better with eye contact, but I also recall adults constantly saying "Look up / Look at me". I think I made enough fleeting contact in my teens and twenties to look more normal, but never enough to seem reliable to people. Recently I have found I don't look at people much at all. Probably because I am constantly overwhelmed with interaction from work and I need to look elsewhere or I lose my thoughts mid-sentence.

 

[Ste11aeres]

So here is a new finding from research on lying that is good news for those of us who avoid eye contact and therefore have been unduly thought of as dishonest and untrustworthy.

From this article: https://www.yahoo.com/health/5-ways-to-tell-if-someone-is-lying-to-you-174733710.html

3. Making direct eye contact
Despite many a preconceived notion that liars avoid eye contact, researchers found that fibbers actually looked the questioner in the eyemore often than those being truthful. In the videos studied, 70 percent of liars looked directly at their interrogator, versus 60 percent of honest people, something Mihalcea said may be because “the liars are trying so very hard to convince that they are not lying, that in a rational way, they’re just using everything they can” to emphasize their trustworthiness.

BTW, I really dislike the idea of "Ways to Tell Someone is Lying to You." There simply are no good ways to know-other than having knowledge that the real state of things is different than what they are saying, and simultaneously knowing that the other person almost certainly knows the truth.

One of the people commenting on that article said that at his workplace, they were all sure that one of the employees was lying about having cancer so that she could get time off from work. She did the "signs of lying" listed in the article, and more.
Then she died from cancer.

 

[On the Inside]

BTW, I really dislike the idea of "Ways to Tell Someone is Lying to You." There simply are no good ways to know-other than having knowledge that the real state of things is different than what they are saying, and simultaneously knowing that the other person almost certainly knows the truth.

One of the people commenting on that article said that at his workplace, they were all sure that one of the employees was lying about having cancer so that she could get time off from work. She did the "signs of lying" listed in the article, and more.
Then she died from cancer.

I agree, every now and then there is an article about the "signs that someone is lying" and it only perpetuates the same signs that could also be from something completely unrelated to what is being talked about. I'm often quite anxious when talking with people I am not familiar with, so I'm sure I exhibit many such signs, not just lack of eye contact.

 

[Jake Elson]

Making eye contact is something I do struggle with. I just have never felt comfortable doing so, i don't know why, it is just something I don't do. Maybe because the eyeball is too bright or the pupil too black, or the kaliedoscope of colours, i don't know. If I have to look into their eye, its usually for a short space of time
But what I have read which is somewhat interesting is that the necessity of eye contact is just a social custom. In some countries, making eye contact is actually viewed as rude, believe it or not!
And yes, it is true that people who stare into others eyes more than usual are usually lying or trying to impart undue influence by appearing to be dead serious.
However, when someone speaks, I usually focus on the facial expressions. they usually give away emotion or insincerity just as well

 

[ancusmitis]

Despite many a preconceived notion that liars avoid eye contact, researchers found that fibbers actually looked the questioner in the eyemore often than those being truthful.

Perhaps they are reacting to the myth.