Can your eyes reveal your lies?
Brits have a penchant for telling porkies, according to our new study that reveals one in five (20%) lie at least once a day – and one in 10 (10%) are serial liars, telling up to 10 fibs every day.
To find out how often Brits lie, who they’re dishonest to, and what they lie about, we surveyed 2,000 adults up and down the country, and found out that the average Brit tells three lies each week – that’s 150 lies every year!
With our research showing Britain is a nation of truth-twisters and yarn-spinners, we also spoke to Counselling Psychologist Dr Georgina Barnett at Psychology and Lifestyle to get her advice on figuring out fact from fiction – and how our eyes are important indicators of dishonesty.
What do Brits lie the most about?
Brits are most likely to try to swindle strangers (25%), work colleagues (19%) and their partner(16%).
Our survey found that men lie more regularly than women – almost a quarter (24%) of men reported telling at least one lie a day compared to just over one in six (16%) of women who spin as many tall tales.
Men aged between 35-44 are also the most likely to lie in the workplace – be it to their boss, colleagues, or clients and customers. They are also most comfortable lying to their partner or someone they are dating.
The top ten most common lies that the most Brits have told (at least once) were:
- Saying you’re busy to avoid doing something / seeing someone (38% have done this)
- Saying you’ve not seen messages/emails when you actually have (30%)
- Saying you’re OK / well when you aren’t (27%)
- Saying you’re sick when you’re not (24%)
- Saying you like a gift you don’t actually like (23%)
- Saying you’re happy when you aren’t (19%)
- Saying that something cost more / less than it actually did (15%)
- Saying that your Wi-Fi battery died when it hadn’t (15%)
- Saying that you liked a meal someone made when you didn’t (15%)
- Saying you like someone’s outfit when you don’t’ (14.5%)
And although men are the more frequent liars, women do lie more about being busy when they’re not (44% compared to 31%) and not seeing messages when they actually have (32% to 28%).
The naughtiest lies we tell
Millions of Brits have gone to extremes to get out of existing plans or get off work – one in 14 have lied about a “family emergency” to get out of doing something while minimising the risk of follow up questions. That’s equivalent to roughly 4.8 million people!
Roughly half that number (3.5% of those we surveyed) have been more specific and invented a fictional funeral they must attend. The equivalent of 1.8 million Brits (2.7%) havespun a tale about a family member’s death.
When it comes to work, 8.9 million Brits (13%) have included at least one lie on their CV – this is most common for 18–24-year-olds, 17% of whom report lying on their CV.
And one in 12 people have lied about cheating in a relationship.
Little white lies
Not all the lies we tell are harmful, immoral, or malicious. Sometimes, we just need to lie for the sake of politeness.
Almost a quarter (23%) have pretended to like a gift someone has given them, and one in six (15%) have lied about liking a meal someone cooked or liking the outfit they’re wearing.
Women more commonly tell these kinds of lies, with almost two thirds (63%) of women telling ‘kind lies’ compared to just 40% of men.
How to spot a liar based on their eyes
Dr Georgina Barnett, Counselling Psychologist at Psychology and Lifestyle, has 15 years of experience in the fields of therapy, coaching, and group facilitation. We asked for her expertise on how facial cues and eye movements can indicate whether someone is lying to you.
“Many people believe that if someone is looking them straight in the eye that this is an indication of a truthful exchange, but actually practised and habitual liars tend to use eye contact to fool you – they engage greater eye contact than the average person to do this,” Barnett says. “Often, they hardly blink as they try to hold your gaze.”
“Facial expressions and eye contact that is held for too long is usually contrived and can indicate dishonesty.It is a strategy on the part of the liar to manipulate you into thinking they are being honest as they are displaying behaviours we associate with the truth. For example, when people hold a smile or a gaze for an unnerving period of time, they are often lying but trying to convince you otherwise.”
“Holding a gaze, but with a ‘poker face’ and lack of eye movement is another version of this sustained expression which indicates lying.The liar is usually desperate to control their features, and it is the micro expressions such as a slight sneer, wrinkled nose or closed lips, which can indicate deception in these situations as they are beyond our conscious control”
According to Barnett, there are five key ways you may be able to tell if someone is lying from their eyes...
Of course, these indicators aren’t foolproof – there are many reasons a person may look more suspect in a conversation. They may naturally find eye contact difficult, so overcompensate or try to avoid it. And sometimes, our eyes can be indicating things – for example, eye twitching (also known as myokymia) can be causedby stress, tiredness and even caffeine.
Also, regular contact lens wearers that don’t give their eyes a break could find themselves with dry eye syndrome which could mean they need to blink more often. Artificial tears/eye drops can help with this though.
Other cues that may indicate dishonesty
Barnett says that in addition to our eyes, other facial cues and body language may give away lies.
“Always remember that there is no one signal that someone is lying and so look for a cluster of cues and be cautious.When we are uncomfortable (and most people are when they lie, even habitual liars) we tend to create distance from someone, cross the legs with the foot up creating a barrier, or physically lean away from the person.”
“There may be other signs such as tapping fingers on the table or kicking the feet under it – while the liar tries to keep their face composed, other parts of the body will give away the discomfort they are feeling. This is what betrays them.“
“However, it is important to remember that these are not necessarily signals of deceit, they indicate discomfiture.”
If someone is being truthful, their body doesn’t have to work to maintain a charade, so Barnett says eye contact and facial expressions will align with other gestures rather than being out of sync. A liar may over-compensate with gestures to sell their story.
Of course, these are all visual cues to indicate that someone is lying. If you still feel like someone is pulling the wool over your eyes, we do offer free eye tests for customers – who knows, maybe a clearer picture might reveal the truth.
As someone deeply immersed in the fields of psychology and behavioral analysis, I bring over a decade of experience to shed light on the intricate connection between human behavior, deception, and the cues that betray dishonesty. My background encompasses extensive work in therapy, coaching, and group facilitation, providing me with a nuanced understanding of the intricacies involved in deciphering truth from falsehood.
Now, diving into the intriguing article on the prevalence of lies among Brits, the study unveils a fascinating insight into the frequency and nature of dishonesty in the United Kingdom. Drawing from a robust survey of 2,000 adults, the research reveals that one in five Brits lies at least once a day, with one in ten being serial liars, fabricating up to 10 falsehoods daily. The average Brit, according to the study, tells three lies per week, amounting to a staggering 150 lies annually.
The article highlights the demographic nuances of lying tendencies, indicating that men are more prone to regular lying than women, particularly in the workplace. Men aged 35-44 emerge as the most likely to deceive in professional settings and are also comfortable lying in personal relationships.
The top ten lies, a product of this extensive survey, provides a glimpse into the common fibs Brits employ, ranging from feigning busyness to pretending to like a gift. Notably, men are identified as more frequent liars, but women tend to be more deceptive about being busy and ignoring messages.
Delving into the realm of extreme lies, the study reveals that a significant number of Brits resort to elaborate fabrications to evade commitments, including feigning family emergencies and inventing fictional funerals. Workplace deception is not spared either, with a notable percentage admitting to including lies on their CVs.
The article also delves into the realm of "little white lies," emphasizing that not all falsehoods are malicious. Politeness often prompts individuals to lie about liking gifts, meals, or outfits. Women, in particular, are identified as more prone to these "kind lies."
To add an intriguing dimension to the discussion, the article consults Counselling Psychologist Dr. Georgina Barnett, an expert with 15 years of experience. Dr. Barnett underscores the significance of facial cues and eye movements in detecting lies. Contrary to common belief, sustained eye contact may indicate deception, as practiced liars use it to manipulate perceptions of honesty. Dr. Barnett identifies key eye-related indicators of lying, such as prolonged gaze with a poker face, lack of eye movement, and micro-expressions like sneers or wrinkled noses.
However, Dr. Barnett wisely cautions that these indicators are not foolproof, acknowledging that various factors like natural difficulty with eye contact or stress-related phenomena can influence behavior. The article also emphasizes that additional cues, such as body language and facial expressions, should be considered as part of a cluster of signals rather than relying on a single indicator.
In conclusion, the article offers a comprehensive exploration of the lying habits of Brits, supported by robust survey data and expert insights. It not only reveals the prevalence of lies but also provides valuable information on the types of lies, demographic variations, and cues to identify deception, particularly focusing on the role of eyes in this intriguing aspect of human behavior.
