SG Talk

The MAGIC Lie Detection Model is an easy-to-remember process that may be applied to all situations. You may find it helpful to use this summary to refresh your memory. If you would like more detailed information, I suggest you read the entire section titled Lie-Detection Process—It’s MAGIC!

 M otivation: Does the person have a motivation to lie? Motivations include: to protect from embarrassment; to make a positive impression; to gain an advantage; and to avoid punishment. You’ll be more accurate if you remain objective, so don’t assume the person is lying— be aware that the person may have the motivation to lie, but is actually telling the truth.

 A sk Control Questions, to establish a baseline: When you initially turn on your “Liedar,” observe the verbal and nonverbal responses to Control Questions—ones the person will answer truthfully. This will give you a behavioral baseline. Take your time doing this, as it will create a reliable platform to then detect changes in behavior if the person lies.

G uilt Questions: To identify a liar you need to first provide the opportunity to lie. For this to occur, you must ask a Guilt Question or two—subtly. This is best done as part of a normal conversation, as it denies the opportunity for the person to hide deceit clues from you. 

I ndicators: Are there lying indicators that stand out to you, from the baseline behavior you observed when asking the Control Questions? Did they occur in a clue cluster and in quick succession? When this occurs in response to a guilt question, your “Liedar” should activate. Some deceit clues are listed at the end of this section.

 C heck Again: Re-examine. To do this, repeat stages MAGI (above) and validate your previous observations of the clue cluster. If you observe a similar clue cluster to a previous Guilt Question, it’s likely you’ve caught yourself a liar. 

Some Deceit Clues: Finger, hand, leg, and foot movement, or absence of movement; speech pattern changes, increased mispronunciation, throat clearing, exaggerated swallowing, or stuttering; inconsistent eye movement (fabricating not recalling); less eye contact or vastly increased eye contact; itchy nose; closed body posture, leaning back or placing arms across the body to create a barrier; hands in front of mouth or eyes; extended blink followed by a hand to the face; contradictions between “what is said” and “what is gestured” (nodding “yes” but saying “no”); feigning tiredness, (e.g. fake yawning); increased embellishment and overly detailed answers; and conflicting micro-expressions.

LYING SIGNS

A. The Eyes
1 Often liars will deliberately increase the amount of eye contact in the hope of appearing more sincere.)(Liars may look away immediately after having lied)
2.Liars may raise their hand in front of their eyes. ( Blocking behavior)
3. Blink Rate.( Rapid shutting after certain words)
4. Eye Movement(Creating or fabricating something. Looks to the left. )(Recalling a real event. Looks to the right)

B. The nose
1.Liars touch their nose.

C. The mouth
1.hide their mouth or hold their mouth closed.

D. The Hand :
1. A person starting to fidget or tap fingers during your Guilt Questions may be lying. Also a total lack of movement can indicate deceit.

2. Hiding their hands: to hide this by placing their hands in their pockets, under a desk, or clasping them together.

E .The Legs and feet:
1.Liars may start to shake one or both legs slightly. Or fidgeting.
2. Try hide this, they may cross the legs or lock the ankles.
3. Liars may use arms of chairs to hold against the legs as a kind of brace to minimize movement.
4.Liars may pretend to be relaxed—a closer inspection reveals the legs are braced against the chair, the fingers are clenched, and the arm is locked into back of the chair.