Psychologist Dennis Relojo-Howell has identified five key mistakes people make when trying to spot a lie, from giving familiar friends the benefit of the doubt to being won over by a convincing poker face. The guidance comes ahead of The Traitors finale on Friday.
More than half of Brits (52%) consider themselves lucky, according to research by tombola arcade, but trusting your gut may only get you so far when it comes to detecting dishonesty. tombola arcade has partnered with the managing director of Psychreg to help Faithfuls expose Traitors in their lives.
Giving a familiar face a free pass
Years of friendship can help you recognise someone's habits, but they can also make you reluctant to question an explanation you would challenge from somebody else. Dennis said: "Knowing someone for longer cuts both ways. You learn their normal habits, so you're better placed to notice when something changes. But familiarity also builds a truth bias, where we want to believe people we like, so we explain away the odd detail."
In the castle that could mean defending a close ally despite a hole in their story. In everyday life, it could mean accepting a friend's excuse because 'they wouldn't lie to me'. A familiar face shouldn't get a free pass if their story doesn't quite add up.
Deciding a fidget means they're guilty
Struggling to hold eye contact, looking away and shifting in a chair can all attract suspicion, but none is reliable proof that someone is being dishonest. Dennis said: "Common tells such as a change in eye contact, looking away or fidgeting aren't reliable signs of lying. Honest people do those things when they're thinking, anxious or simply tired, so a single isolated gesture is a poor guide."
A friend who looks uncomfortable explaining why they cancelled plans may be embarrassed about letting you down. A Faithful under pressure at the Round Table may look nervous because nobody believes them. An awkward reaction can't settle whether the explanation is true.
Confusing good company with good character
The person who makes everyone laugh can be easy to believe and difficult to suspect. Dennis said: "Likeability, familiarity and humour can also make someone seem more honest than they are, because people often treat warmth as a stand in for integrity."
That doesn't mean a charming person is hiding something - it means charm should not carry more weight than the facts. Whether it's a favourite contestant or the friend who can talk their way out of anything, being entertaining doesn't make their version of events more accurate.
Being won over by a poker face
A calm answer can sound convincing, especially beside someone who stumbles over their words, but composure and honesty aren't the same thing. Dennis said: "A convincing poker face does exist, but trying too hard to control your voice, expression or body language can backfire. People notice when someone seems stiff, rehearsed or unnaturally still, and that can look more suspicious than a bit of normal fidgeting."
For viewers, that cuts both ways. A relaxed contestant is not automatically telling the truth and someone who looks rehearsed is not automatically lying. How smoothly somebody delivers an answer matters less than whether it stands up.
Ignoring holes in their story
A confident explanation can sound convincing, but the way someone delivers it is no guarantee that it's true. Dennis said: "People who are good at keeping up a lie usually keep it simple, stay close to the truth and stay calm under pressure. They don't over-explain. Bad liars tend to add too much detail, contradict themselves later or get defensive when questioned."
Rather than treating hesitation or confidence as a giveaway, focus on whether the explanation fits what you already know. Dennis said: "If a partner, friend or colleague gives an explanation that doesn't quite add up, look less at their face and more at the story itself. Does it fit with what you already know? Does it stay the same when they tell it again? And does it hold up when you check the facts?"
Dennis says there's one golden rule when it comes to spotting a lie - and that's judging the story not the stare. He said: "My golden rule for spotting deception is to judge the story, not the body language. Check whether its consistent and fits the facts, rather than relying on eye contact or nervous habits."
Micala Sansom, Social and Community Manager at tombola arcade, said: "One of the most interesting things about The Traitors is that the players aren't just trying to spot a liar, they're also trying to control how they're perceived by everyone else. Our research found that one in six (16%) Brits have avoided saying something because they were worried about jinxing it. It shows how easily uncertainty can influence behaviour."
Ultimately, The Traitors proves that spotting a liar is rarely as straightforward as it seems. Confidence, familiarity and first impressions can all influence who we trust, meaning the contestants who look the most trustworthy aren't always the ones telling the truth.
