Can Nonverbal Communication Reveal Deception?

This video describes the theory that nonverbal communication can indicate deception. There is a common belief that certain groups (e.g. mental health clinicians, police officers, judges, jurors) have an enhanced ability to identify deceptive behavior through the observations of nonverbal behaviors like micro-expressions. Evidence does not support this theory, however, some micro-expressions and behaviors have a small association with deceptive behavior. Some micro-expressions are touching the nose, touching the face, adjusting eyeglasses, pushing hair back behind the ear, covering the mouth or eyes, looking left, looking right, and touch the neck. Some behaviors that have a small association with deception are telling inconsistent stories, claiming to have a memory problem, speaking slowly, and reluctance to offer details. The effect size is too small to use nonverbal behavior to detect lying for any meaningful purpose.