deception Archives - Paul Ekman Group

How to Detect Lies by Analyzing Facial Expression

The importance of context in Micro Expression Detection

Micro expressions can occur either as the result of conscious suppression or unconscious repression of emotions. As such, spotting micro expressions (or analyzing facial expressions) is key to learning how …

Errors in Detecting Lies

Dangers and Precautions when Catching Lies

When it comes to deception and catching lies, there are a number of common errors you need to be wary of. The two biggest failures of judgment in deception detection …

Do lie detectors actually work?

A deception detection expert’s account of the polygraph exam

The polygraph lie detector works on the same principles as detecting behavioral betrayals of deceit, and it is vulnerable to the same problems. The polygraph exam does not detect lies, …

Lying to hide your feelings

Here’s what happens when you try to conceal emotions

Excerpt from Telling Lies A failure to think ahead, plan fully, and rehearse the false line is only one of the reasons why mistakes that furnish clues to deceit are …

Suppressed Emotions and Deception: The Discovery of Micro Expressions

From emotional expressions research to modern micro expressions

Excerpt from Emotions Revealed pp. 213-215 Suppressed emotions versus truthfulness It was not my idea to find out how emotions might be useful in evaluating truthfulness. The question arose nearly …

Deception & Lying Quiz
Can you tell if someone is lying?

Take this deception quiz to find out how much you know about the signs and reasons for lying.

Psychologist Paul Ekman: Getting to Know the Man Behind the Success

An Intimate Paul Ekman Interview

December 26, 2018 The world knows Dr. Ekman as a celebrated research psychologist, a best-selling author, a sought-after scientific advisor to Hollywood, and even a “brother” to the Dalai Lama. …

Why Do People Lie?

9 Motives for Telling Lies

Reading between the lies Why do people lie? Such a simple question should come with a simple answer (but doesn’t, unfortunately). There are indications, however, that most of us share the same the motives …

My Six Discoveries

One scientist. Six discoveries. Fifty-five years in the making.

August 1, 2017 Number 1: Nonverbal behaviors provide accurate information. And it is not obscure; most people can derive at least some of that information with no trouble. It may …

Should We Want a President Who Can’t or Won’t Lie?

Is honesty the best policy?

August 25, 2016 Presidents and Lying Would it be desirable to have a president who always told the truth; who played with his cards face up? Would that serve the …

Should We Torture Suspected Terrorists?

A closer look at interrogation techniques

July 26, 2016 Suspected Terrorists The Republican candidate for the presidency has recommended torturing suspected terrorists. While former Vice President Dick Cheney was known to advocate the use of torture …

8 Myths about Lying

Lying facts and faction

June 8, 2015 by Paul Ekman, Ph.D. as featured on Forbes. Myth #1 – Everyone lies. Not so. Not about serious matters, not about lies which if caught could result …

Is Snowden Lying?

Evaluating truthfulness

June 2014 Many readers have asked whether Snowden was lying in his recent NBC-TV interview, knowing I have worked for the government and corporations spotting lies by how someone behaves. …

Spotting Poker Bluffs

Can you tell when someone is bluffing?

May 2014 The game has changed now that TV broadcasts people playing poker In the old days, not a word was spoken, and that tradition continues today in some venues. …

Why Lies Fail – Part 2

Why do lies fail?

October, 2009 Feeling Guilty Why do lies fail? I asked people “If you could be absolutely certain that your lover would never find out, would you have a one-night stand …

Sixteen Enjoyable Emotions

All happiness emotions are enjoyable but not in the same way.

Characteristics of Emotions

What science has taught us about emotional experiences

Emotional Bias

Emotion and perception: How our emotions change the way we see the world