If you’re like us, you’ve probably wished, at least once, that you could tell when someone was lying to you. Human interactions are complex and constant, showing up in everything from dating to job interviews and awkward family dinners. So, being able to spot a lie would undeniably be an advantage. That’s where the pros come in. Glam spoke exclusively with Blanca Cobb, a body language expert with a master’s degree in psychology, who’s breaking down some subtle signs people miss when someone is bending the truth.
Our first question was obvious: Is it actually possible to tell if someone is lying just from their body language? Cobb’s reply is clear and nuanced, and it debunks many body-language myths. “There’s no one universal body language sign that proves that someone is lying,” she says. “One person could get jittery while another person becomes motionless while lying. What’s most important when determining deception is to establish a person’s baseline behavior.” In other words, your best shot is knowing how someone typically acts. Because of this, it’s much easier to catch a friend in a fib than a first date. If you’re going out with a stranger, you might have to rely on the unexpected red flag that helps spot a lying date — namely, when they’re obsessed with impressing you.
On the other hand, if you’re gauging someone you know, Cobb suggests observing how they behave when they’re not stressed. Understanding this baseline is what helps you notice when something shifts. But does that mean it’s impossible to catch a stranger in a lie? Not quite. According to Cobb, there are a few common indicators of possible deception, and once you know them, you’ll analyze conversations differently.
